The French Communist Party during the Fifth Republic: A Crisis of Leadership and Ideology (French Politics, Society and Culture)

France has always fascinated outside observers. Now, the country is undergoing a period of profound transformation. France is faced with a rapidly changing international and European environment and it is having to rethink some of its most basic social, political and economic orthodoxies. As elsewhere, there is pressure to conform. And yet, while France is responding in ways that are no doubt familiar to people in other European countries, it is also managing to maintain elements of its long-standing distinctiveness. Overall, it remains a place that is not exactly comme les autres. This new series examines all aspects of French politics, society and culture. In so doing it focuses on the changing nature of the French system as well as the established patterns of political, social and cultural life. Contributors to the series are encouraged to present new and innovative arguments so that the informed reader can learn and understand more about one of the most beguiling and compelling of all European countries. Chronicles Foretelling The Death Of The French Communist Party Have Been A Staple Part Of The Literature On The Left In France Since The 1980s, When The Party Began To Lose Control Over The Dissident Voices In Its Own Ranks And Had To Face The Evidence Of Its Failure At The Ballot Box. The Collapse Of The Berlin Wall And The Demise Of The Soviet Union Reinforced The Belief That The Party Had Lost Its Raison D'etre And Therefore Any Enduring Hope Of Survival. Nonetheless, The Party Emerged From The Elections Of 2004 In France On A Much More Even Keel Than Those Parties To Its Left Which Had Been Tipped To Overtake It. Instead Of Viewing The Party In Isolation, Raymond Treats It As Part Of The Host Society Whose Evolution Invariably Impacts On Its Fortunes And Suggests That The Obituaries For Communism In France May Be Premature.--jacket. 1. Political Credibility -- 2. Dynamics Of The Counter-culture -- 3. The Anti-system Party -- 4. The Rise Of The Socialists -- 5. Failing The Presidential Challenge -- 6. Marchais : The (dis)course Of Leadership -- 7. A Tale Of Clashing Counter-cultures -- 8. The End Of Ideology. Gino G. Raymond. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 221-229) And Index. Annotation Chronicles foretelling the death of the French Communist Party have been a staple part of the literature on the Left in France since the 1980s, when the party began to lose control over the dissident voices in its own ranks and had to face the evidence of its failure at the ballot box. The collapse of the Berlin Wall and the demise of the Soviet Union reinforced the belief that the party had lost its raison d'être and therefore any enduring hope of survival. Nonetheless, the party emerged from the elections of 2004 in France on a much more even keel than those parties to its left which had been tipped to overtake it. Instead of viewing the party in isolation, Raymond treats it as part of the host society whose evolution invariably impacts on its fortunes and suggests that the obituaries for communism in France may be premature Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 List of Tables......Page 9 About the Author......Page 10 Acknowledgements......Page 11 Introduction......Page 12 Part I The Premier Party of France......Page 16 1 Political Credibility......Page 18 2 Dynamics of the Counter-culture......Page 34 3 The Anti-system Party......Page 51 Part II The Seeds of Failure......Page 76 4 The Rise of the Socialists......Page 78 5 Failing the Presidential Challenge......Page 104 6 Marchais: The (Dis)course of Leadership......Page 131 Part III A Party Without a Role?......Page 150 7 A Tale of Clashing Counter-cultures......Page 152 8 The End of Ideology......Page 179 Notes......Page 217 Bibliography......Page 232 E......Page 241 L......Page 242 S......Page 243 Y......Page 244 Annotation The demise of the French Communist Party (PCF) has been a recurrent feature of overviews of the Left in France for the past two decades, and yet the Communists survive. This study examines the factors that undermined the position of the PCF as the premier party of France, but also highlights the challenges that the party faces in a society disillusioned with politics, and the new strategies that it is developing in order to revive its fortunes.