Drawing on exclusive interviews with Jacques Delors himself, this comprehensive, accessibly written study of his life and Commission presidency is an invaluable resource for all those interested in European and French Politics. Debunking populist images and myths about him, this book presents a balanced examination of a widely misinterpreted political figure. This book also raises important issues such as:
the role of individual leaders in contemporary politics
the legitimacy of the European Union as a political system.

Drawing on exclusive interviews with Jacques Delors himself, this comprehensive, accessibly written study of his life and Commission presidency is an invaluable resource for all those interested in European and French Politics. Debunking populist images and myths about him, this book presents a balanced examination of a widely misinterpreted political figure. This book also raises important issues such as:
the role of individual leaders in contemporary politics
the legitimacy of the European Union as a political system.

This scholarly work examines how key actors within French politics and society have related to the challenges and opportunities posed by the European Union, and how these relations have driven or hindered change in France.
The collection invites the reader to explore below the surface image of a France troubled by its relations with the EU in the post-Cold war era, and see the dynamics of change in empirical detail. Each chapter offers insights into specific aspects of the France-EU relationship, including:
- The characteristics of Euroscepticism "a la francaise" amongst the...

Contemporary France is an accessible, interdisciplinary introduction to contemporary France, providing systematic coverage of culture, society, economy, and politics set in a historical and geographical context. A central theme is the relationship between popular images of France - flowing from its cultural, culinary, and linguistic influence, its appeal as a tourist destination, and the influence of its republican and revolutionary heritage - and the often contradictory realities of French society facing up to globalization, Europeanization and the other challenges of the 21st century. With...