Publisher's Synopsis
The Presidential election, as one of the central events of the democratic process in France and the main organising principle of French politics since 1962, provides an opportunity to assess the development of the regime. More significantly, it allows us to assess modifications to the office of President and to French Presidentialism which are both reflected in and affected by the electoral campaign and the election themselves. This book provides such an assessment, with specific reference to the candidates, issues and events of the 1995 Presidential elections. - - - Offers an assessment of contemporary French politics and a study of the deeper historical issues underlying the French presidential system, with specific reference to the candidates, issues and events of the 1995 Presidential elections. - - Features Include: - - ? Focus on Presidentialism: lan understanding of French Presidentialism is essential to a sound grasp of French politics and society in general. - ? Cross-disciplinary nature of the research team, which brings together political scientists, historians, economists and linguists to ensure a rounded and creative approach. - ? An intellectually rigorous and analytically searching counterbalance to the great quantities of press coverage the 1995 election received. - ? The book is up-to-date on the 1995 elections but of lasting importance for its presentation of the central institutions of the Presidency and Presidentialism.
