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The notion of French exceptionalism is deeply embedded in the nation's self-image and in a range of political and academic discourses. Recently, the debate about whether France really is "exceptional" has acquired a critical edge. Against the background of introspection about the nature of "national identity," some proclaim "normalisation" and the end of French exceptionalism, while others point out to the continuing evidence that France remains distinctive at a number of levels, from popular culture to public policy. This book explores the notion of French exceptionalism, places it in its European context, examines its history and evaluate its continuing relevance in a range of fields from politics and public policy to popular culture and sport.
List of contents
Foreword
List of Abbreviations
Introduction PART I: PROBLEMATISING EXCEPTIONALISM Chapter 1. France and Exceptionalism
Nick Hewlett Chapter 2. Exceptionalism and Universalism: The Uneasy Alliance in the French-speaking World
Margaret A. Majumdar Chapter 3. The Elusive French Exception
Sue Collard PART II: EXCEPTIONALISM IN POLITICS AND POLICY Chapter 4. French Communism: An Exceptional Orthodoxy
David S. Bell Chapter 5. Does it Make Sense to Treat the Front National as a 'French Exception'?
Emmanuel Godin Chapter 6. The French Administrative Exception: Change and Resistance
Anne Stevens Chapter 7. French Industrial Relations - Still Exceptional?
Nick Parsons Chapter 8. The French Socialists, Dirigisme and the Troubled Europeanisation of Employment Policy
Ben Clift Chapter 9. French Foreign and Defence Policy: Exceptional in Methods and Rhetoric?
Janet Bryant PART III: EXCEPTIONALISM IN FRENCH CULTURE, THE MEDIA AND SPORT Chapter 10. Presidential Debates in France: An Example of Americanisation?
Sheila Perry Chapter 11. The Myth of Exceptionalism? French Television in a West European Context
Raymond Kuhn Chapter 12. Cultural Exception(s) in French Cinema
Brigitte Rollet Chapter 13. Sport and Politics: Another French Exception
Patrick Mignon Chapter 14. French Intellectuals: the Legendary Exception
Michael Kelly Bibliography
Notes on Contributors
Index
About the author
Emmanuel Godin is Senior lecturer in French and European Studies at the University of Porstmouth
Tony Chafer is Principal Lecturer in French and African Studies at the University of Portsmouth.
Summary
The notion of French exceptionalism is deeply embedded in the nation's self-image and in a range of political and academic discourses. Recently, the debate about whether France really is "exceptional" has acquired a critical edge. Against the background of introspection about the nature of "national identity," some proclaim "normalisation" and the end of French exceptionalism, while others point out to the continuing evidence that France remains distinctive at a number of levels, from popular culture to public policy. This book explores the notion of French exceptionalism, places it in its European context, examines its history and evaluate its continuing relevance in a range of fields from politics and public policy to popular culture and sport.
Additional text
"[A] thorough cut at the notion of French exceptionalism, and it should be useful for French specialists as well as scholars of other areas who wish to study France in comparative perspective." H-France
