Abstract

Since 1914, the French state has faced a succession of daunting and at times almost insurmountable crises. The turbulent decades from 1914 to 1969 witnessed near-defeat in 1914, economic and political crisis in 1926, radical political polarization in the 1930s, military conquest in 1940, the deep division of France during the Nazi Occupation, political reconstruction after 1944, de-colonization (with threatening civil war provoked by the Algerian crisis), and dramatic postwar modernization. However, this tumultuous period was not marked just by crises but also by tremendous change. Economic, social and political "modernization" transformed France in the twentieth century, restoring its confidence and its influence as a leader in global economic and political affairs. This combination of crises and renewal has received surprisingly little attention in recent years.

The present collection show-cases significant new scholarship, reflecting greater access to French archival sources, and focuses on the role of crises in fostering modernization in areas covering politics, economics, women, diplomacy and war.

Kenneth Mouré is Professor of History at the University of California at Santa Barbara

"Specialists will learn much from the book, as will anyone interested in the renewal of political history more generally."  · The International History Review

"The essays focus on heretofore underappreciated issues…Although several anthologies about modern France have appeared recently, this collection is a particularly worthy contribution because of its approach and its analytical insights. Students and specialists of the history of France will benefit greatly."  · History: Reviews of New Books

"The essays are worth reading, and some make very distinctive and important contributions to our understanding of modern French history."  · H-France

Martin S. Alexander is Professor of International Politics at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, UK