David Hanley – författare

The impact of student protest on French society and government in the 1960s is examined in this socio-historical study. It analyzes the far-reaching consequences of rebellion on trade unionism, the government and the arts.

The impact of student protest on French society and government in the 1960s is examined in this socio-historical study. It analyzes the far-reaching consequences of rebellion on trade unionism, the government and the arts.

According to received wisdom parties have played a mainly destructive role in French political development. Of questionable legitimacy, pursuing narrow sectarian goals, often corruptly, they have brought about division, weakness and the collapse of regimes. A proper reading of history suggests differently. By combining historical research and contemporary political science theory about party, the author shows that for over a century party has irrigated French democracy in often invisible ways, brokering working compromises between groups divided strongly along social, political and cultural lines. The key to this success is the party system, which allowed for a high degree of collusion and cooptation between political elites, rhetoric notwithstanding. This hidden logic has persisted to this day despite the advent of presidentialism and remains the key to the continuing prosperity of French democracy.

According to received wisdom parties have played a mainly destructive role in French political development. Of questionable legitimacy, pursuing narrow sectarian goals, often corruptly, they have brought about division, weakness and the collapse of regimes. A proper reading of history suggests differently. By combining historical research and contemporary political science theory about party, the author shows that for over a century party has irrigated French democracy in often invisible ways, brokering working compromises between groups divided strongly along social, political and cultural lines. The key to this success is the party system, which allowed for a high degree of collusion and cooptation between political elites, rhetoric notwithstanding. This hidden logic has persisted to this day despite the advent of presidentialism and remains the key to the continuing prosperity of French democracy.

According to received wisdom parties have played a mainly destructive role in French political development. Of questionable legitimacy, pursuing narrow sectarian goals, often corruptly, they have brought about division, weakness and the collapse of regimes. A proper reading of history suggests differently. By combining historical research and contemporary political science theory about party, the author shows that for over a century party has irrigated French democracy in often invisible ways, brokering working compromises between groups divided strongly along social, political and cultural lines. The key to this success is the party system, which allowed for a high degree of collusion and cooptation between political elites, rhetoric notwithstanding. This hidden logic has persisted to this day despite the advent of presidentialism and remains the key to the continuing prosperity of French democracy.

Recent years have witnessed the development of new Christian Democratic movements in Northern and Eastern Europe, and the revival of those in Western Europe, which are subject to change in an increasingly secular society. The Christian Democratic parties are being required to respond to the new political challenges which address any party, such as the future of the welfare state, or the search for a new security agenda in Europe. These developments are assessed in this text, together with an analysis of the challenges the parties face, and suggestions for their future development.

An introductory text on Spanish political parties, this book deals with the party system, Spanish national parties operating at the national level and at the level of autonomous communities.