2017 marked the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome and the starting point for todays European Union. Since then, the project has indisputably come a very long way and has undergone major changes in direction. However, one constant throughout has been the central role played by France.
This important milestone is used to take stock of the relationship between France and Europe. The enclosed chapters cover a broad range of issues relating to the past, present and future, investigating Franco-European relations via the optic of a wide range of debates. These include:
the issue of Europe in French presidential elections
the impact of the European question on the development of the two major political forces (of left and right) in France, and its role in their internal tensions;
Europe as a key consideration in French macro-economic policy
France's Algerian question and missed opportunities to extend 'Europe' to its North African neighbour;
Charles de Gaulles role in defining the EUs structures for transnational democratic politics.
Sixty years on: France and Europe from the Treaty of Rome to the 2017 elections assess how and why Europe matters in our understanding of contemporary France, and contributes to the important and ongoing research agendas for the study of France and the European Union.
The chapters were originally published in a special issue of Modern & Contemporary France.
Introduction: Sixty years on: France and Europe from the Treaty of Rome
to the 2017 elections Helen Drake & Chris Reynolds
Chapter 1: Presidential
elections and Europe: the 2012 game-changer Chris Reynolds
Chapter 2: From
la petite Europe vaticane to the Club Med: the French Socialist Party and
the challenges of European integration David Hanley
Chapter 3: Between
Euro-Federalism, Euro-Pragmatism and Euro-Populism: the Gaullist movement
divided over Europe Benjamin Leruth & Nicholas Startin
Chapter 4: France and
European macroeconomic policy coordination: from the Treaty of Rome to the
euro area sovereign debt crisis David Howarth & Joachim Schild
Chapter 5:
Drawing Algeria into Europe: shifting French policy and the Treaty of Rome
(19511964) Megan Brown
Chapter 6: European democracy deferred: de Gaulle and
the Dehousse Plan, 1960 Eric OConnor Conclusion Helen Drake & Chris Reynolds
Helen Drake is Professor of French and European Studies, Loughborough University, UK and Director of the Institute for Diplomacy and International Governance, Loughborough University London, UK.
Chris Reynolds is Associate Professor of Contemporary French and European Studies, Nottingham Trent University, UK.
