Presidents of the French Fifth Republic

DAVID BELL is Professor of Politics at the University of Leeds, UK. JOHN GAFFNEY is Professor of Politics at Aston University, UK.

• Acknowledgments Notes on Contributors List of Abbreviations Introduction: The Presidency in the French Fifth Republic; D.S.Bell & J.Gaffney PART I  Political Leadership from the Fourth to the Fifth Republic; D.Hanley 'Hyperpresidentialism' and the Fifth Republic State Imperative; J.Hayward Ségolène Royal and Gendered Leadership in France; R.Murray PART II Charles de Gaulle: The Real Gaullist Settlement; J.Gaffney Georges Pompidou: The Gaullist Heritage, and the Heritage of '68'. G.Richard (Translated by John Gaffney) Valéry Giscard d'Estaing: The Limits of Liberalism; J.Shields François Mitterrand: The President as 'political artist'; D.S.Bell Jacques Chirac: Surviving without Leading; A.Knapp Nicolas Sarkozy: 'Sarkozyism' a New Presidential Leadership; P.Perrineau Conclusion: The Study of Political Leadership in France; D.S.Bell & J.Gaffney

With The Presidents of the French Fifth Republic, Bell and Gaffney have produced an extremely valuable book that combines a sophisticated analysis of individual Presidents with reflection on political leadership that is historically sensitive and contextually rich, yet which also provides valuable generic analysis. I strongly recommend this book.Alistair Cole, Cardiff School of European Languages, Translation and Politics, Cardiff University, UK