The French Left and the Fifth Republic : The Discourses of Communism and Socialism in Contemporary France

An examination of the ways in which the French Left adapted, through a series of transformations, to the exigencies of presidentialism and the myths which underpin it. The study aims to illustrate the crucial role played by language in the political practice of representative democracy. Front Matter....Pages i-ix Presidentialism and the Fifth Republic....Pages 1-11 Political Leadership and Political Theory....Pages 12-30 Methodological Issues in the Analysis of Texts....Pages 31-36 Discourse and Tradition: The Communists....Pages 37-86 Tradition and Innovation: The Communists....Pages 87-125 Discourse and Organisation: The Socialists....Pages 126-175 Organisation and Modernisation: The Socialists....Pages 176-197 Conclusion: The Left and the Republic....Pages 198-211 Back Matter....Pages 212-299