University of Florida Department of Political Science UF en Provence Summer Study Abroad: Aix-en-Provence, France POS 4931 French Politics and Society in the Fifth Republic (1958-present) Richard S. Conley, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Coordinator, Political Science Studies at UF in Provence Department of Political Science University of Florida 309 Anderson Hall Gainesville, FL 32611 (352) 392-0262 x 297 email: rconley@polisci.ufl.edu web: http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/rconley Course Description This six-week, 3-credit hour course is taught at the Centre d Aix of the Institute for American Universities in Aix-en-Provence, France. The course meets for 2 hours each day from Monday-Thursday. The course provides students with an overview of French political history in the Fifth Republic (1958-present). The language of instruction is English; students studying French will have opportunities to hone language skills in the readings and assignments. The course examines the main socio-political developments in the post-war era, including the role of the state, constitutional arrangements, the semi-presidential system of government since 1962, national institutions (presidency, National Assembly and prime minister, Senate, Constitutional Council), political parties, interest groups, foreign policy, and relations with the European Union. The major presidential figures in French politics de Gaulle, Pompidou, Giscard d Estaing, Mitterand, and Chirac are examined in some detail. In addition to lectures and course readings, students will follow current events by reading a French or English language daily newspaper published in France. Guest lecturers will include 1) Dr. David Wilsford, Professor of Political Science at Georgia Tech University and President of the Institute for American Universities, who will give a talk to students on Changes and Continuities in the French State: Striving to Reach the 21 st Century ; 2) Dr. Christian Joly, Senior Professor, Aix-Marseille (Ph.D. Law), who will discuss France and the European Union.
Field trips to local and regional French governmental offices: 1) City of Aix Economic Development Office; 2) Promotion Provence, economic regional development office for Provence in Marseille; 3) U.S. Consulate General in Marseille. Required Readings William Safran, The French Polity (5th edition). New York: Longman, 1998. Philip Thody, The Fifth French Republic: Presidents, Politics, and Personalities. New York: Routledge, 1998. Alistair Cole, French Politics and Society. New York: Prentice-Hall, 1998. Alain Guyomarch et al., Developments in French Politics 2. Hampshire, UK: Palgrave/Macmillan, Ltd., 2001. Grades Grades will be based on exams, quizzes, assignments, and attendance and participation in the course. Below is a breakdown of how students grades will be determined for the course: Mid-term exam 25.0% Final exam 25.0% Weekly presentation of news stories (6 total) 20.0% Quizzes 15.0% Participation 15.0% Letter grades for the final grade in the course will be assigned per the following schedule: A 90+ B+ 87-89 B 80-86 C+ 77-79 C 70-76 D+ 67-69 D 60-66 E < 60 (failing) Assignments/Exams Students will keep up-to-date with current political events in France by reading French daily newspapers or weekly news magazines of their choice. Students taking French language courses or who have a reading knowledge of French are encouraged to chose from national daily papers such as Le Monde, La Libération, and Nice-Matin, local/regional dailies such as Vaucluse and Provence, or from national weeklies such as Le Point, L Express, and Le Nouvel Observateur. Students without French language skills may turn to the International Herald Tribune or The European. Each week students will present a brief summation of political developments of interest to them as a starting point for discussion of current events.
Exams will be in essay format and will be in-class. Readings and Assignments Schedule Week 1 - Introduction to the Course; Historical/Constitutional Background of the Fifth Republic Meeting #1 - Introduction Meeting #2 - Historical Background Safran, Chapter 1: France: The Historical and Constitutional Background Cole, Chapter 1: The Making of Modern France Meeting #3 - French Political Culture Cole, Chapter 3: French Political Culture: Myths and Realities Safran, Chapter 2: The Economic, Social, and Cultural Context Meeting #4 - Political Culture and the Origins of the Fifth Republic Safran, Chapter 3: Patterns and Perspectives of Political Culture Cole, Chapter 2: France Since 1958 Week 2 - The French Constitution of 1958 and the Presidency Meeting #1 - The Constitution of 1958 Cole, Chapter 4: An Evolving Constitution Meeting #2 - The French Dual Executive: President and Prime Minister Cole, Chapter 5: Presidents and Prime Ministers Safran, Chapter 6: Instruments and Patterns of Decision Making: The Executive Meeting #3 - Executive Leadership Guyomarch et al., Chapter 2: Political Leadership Meeting #4 - de Gaulle Thody, Chapter 1: Charles de Gaulle: The Founding Father Week 3 - Presidents and Presidential Leadership After de Gaulle Meeting #1 - Pompidou & Giscard d Estaing Thody, Chapter 2: Georges Pompidou: The Conscientious Uncle Thody, Chapter 3: Valéry Giscard d Estaing: The Ambitious Nephew Meeting #2 - Mitterand, Chirac, and Cohabitation Thody, Chapter 4, François Mitterand: The Rebellious Brother Thody, Chapter 5, Jacques Chirac: The Impulsive Grandson
Meeting #3 - Legislative Institutions Cole, Chapter 6: A Parliamentary Democracy Safran, Chapter 7: Instruments and Patterns of Decision Making: The Parliament Meeting #4 - Exam %Mid-term exam Week 4 - The French State Meeting #1 - The Administrative State & Civil Service Cole, Chapter 7: An Administrative State? Safran, Chapter 8: The Administrative System Meeting #2 - Local Administration & Decentralization Cole, Chapter 8: Local and Regional Governance Guyomarch et al., Chapter 5, A Revolution in the Provinces? Meeting #3 - The French State and the European Union Guymarch et al., Chapter 6: The Europeanization of French Politics Meeting #4 - The Judiciary Safran, Chapter 9: Law, Justice and Civil Liberties Week 5 - Political Parties, Elections, Interest Groups, and Public Policy Meeting #1 - Background and Development Cole, Chapter 9: The Development of the French Party System Guyomarch et al., Chapter 1: Electoral Politics and the Party Competition Meeting #2 - Presidential Parties Safran, Chapter 4: Political Parties and Elections Cole, Chapters 10 and 11: The Presidential Parties and The Anti- Establishment Parties Meeting #3 - Interest Groups and Representation Guyomarch et al., Chapter 3: Pressure Group Politics Cole, Chapter 12: The Representation of Interests Meeting #4 - Economic Policy in France Safran, Chapter 10: Political Changes and Public Policies Cole, Chapter 13: French Society and Economy Week 6 - Public Policy, Foreign Policy, and the European Union Meeting #1 - Social, Education, and Immigration Policies Guyomarch et al., Chapters 10 and 11: Social Policy and Unemployment and Immigration
Meeting #2 - Foreign Policy Guyomarch et al., Foreign and Security Policy Meeting #3 - The French Role in the European Union Cole, France in the European Union Guyomarch et al., Conclusions: In Search of an Evanescent European Identity Meeting #4 - Exam %Final exam