Vincent Wright – författare

First published in 1984, Continuity and Change in France sets out to explore questions by examining the many features of the Giscard presidency which have endured under Socialist rule. Few people predicted the election victory of Francois Mitterrand over Giscard d’ Estaing in May 1981. It was greeted, by his supporters at least, as the first remarkable event in a chain of far-reaching changes which would transform France. However, it has gradually become clear that political change does not come easily to modern France and that continuity is at least as important.

This book is at once a valuable review of the 1974- 81 period as well as a revealing account of what has changed since then and what, despite the rhetoric, has not. The contributors cover a number of areas important to French presidency and demonstrate the existence of a surprising degree of continuity in terms of both policy and personnel. They will be welcomed by all students of French politics as providing the basis for a fuller assessment of the successes and shortcomings of the Mitterrand years.

First published in 1979, in Conflict and Consensus in France a number of authorities on French politics examine some of the basic problems of legitimacy, consensus formation and conflict resolution which the regime continues to face after the elections of March 1978. Early in 1978 the French Fifth Republic, then twenty five years old, appeared to be facing a major political and constitutional crisis. That crisis did not materialize as the result of the totally unexpected defeat of the left in the March 1978 elections.

Professor Douglas Johnson analyses the historical debate about the divisions in French society. John Frears raises the question of the validity of President Giscard d’Estaing’s views on legitimacy and consensus. Vincent Wright looks at the conflicts which emerged during the March 1978 election campaign and the extent to which they have been resolved. ‘Dissentient France’ is examined by Professor Jack Hayward while Anne Stevens explores the conflicts which riddle the French administration. Four policy areas are then analyzed by Diana Green, Ezra Suleiman, Dorothy Pickles and Howard Machin in order to determine the extent of conflict and consensus among the French political elites. This is an important historical reference work for students and scholars of French politics.

First published in 1984, Continuity and Change in France sets out to explore questions by examining the many features of the Giscard presidency which have endured under Socialist rule. Few people predicted the election victory of Francois Mitterrand over Giscard d’ Estaing in May 1981. It was greeted, by his supporters at least, as the first remarkable event in a chain of far-reaching changes which would transform France. However, it has gradually become clear that political change does not come easily to modern France and that continuity is at least as important.

This book is at once a valuable review of the 1974- 81 period as well as a revealing account of what has changed since then and what, despite the rhetoric, has not. The contributors cover a number of areas important to French presidency and demonstrate the existence of a surprising degree of continuity in terms of both policy and personnel. They will be welcomed by all students of French politics as providing the basis for a fuller assessment of the successes and shortcomings of the Mitterrand years.

First published in 1979, in Conflict and Consensus in France a number of authorities on French politics examine some of the basic problems of legitimacy, consensus formation and conflict resolution which the regime continues to face after the elections of March 1978. Early in 1978 the French Fifth Republic, then twenty five years old, appeared to be facing a major political and constitutional crisis. That crisis did not materialize as the result of the totally unexpected defeat of the left in the March 1978 elections.

Professor Douglas Johnson analyses the historical debate about the divisions in French society. John Frears raises the question of the validity of President Giscard d’Estaing’s views on legitimacy and consensus. Vincent Wright looks at the conflicts which emerged during the March 1978 election campaign and the extent to which they have been resolved. ‘Dissentient France’ is examined by Professor Jack Hayward while Anne Stevens explores the conflicts which riddle the French administration. Four policy areas are then analyzed by Diana Green, Ezra Suleiman, Dorothy Pickles and Howard Machin in order to determine the extent of conflict and consensus among the French political elites. This is an important historical reference work for students and scholars of French politics.

Tensions in the Territorial Politics of Western Europe (1987) examines the massive postwar increase in European government intervention, a major element being the development of welfare services provided by sub-central units of government. Governments have faced the dilemma of being electorally accountable for services delivered through differentiated, disaggregated policy systems. The territorial distribution of functions has become a major political and policy issue, and government centres have developed strategies for regulating the function-based policy system. The term territorial politics refers to the arena of political activity concerned with the relations between central and sub-central organisations, while recognising the need to return to history. The objectives of this work are to argue for a focus on territorial politics; to demonstrate that the analysis of territorial politics requires an exploration of historical context; and to analyse contemporary problems in territorial politics, focusing on functional allocation, interest articulation, central regulation and the distributional consequence of policy networks.

Tensions in the Territorial Politics of Western Europe (1987) examines the massive postwar increase in European government intervention, a major element being the development of welfare services provided by sub-central units of government. Governments have faced the dilemma of being electorally accountable for services delivered through differentiated, disaggregated policy systems. The territorial distribution of functions has become a major political and policy issue, and government centres have developed strategies for regulating the function-based policy system. The term territorial politics refers to the arena of political activity concerned with the relations between central and sub-central organisations, while recognising the need to return to history. The objectives of this work are to argue for a focus on territorial politics; to demonstrate that the analysis of territorial politics requires an exploration of historical context; and to analyse contemporary problems in territorial politics, focusing on functional allocation, interest articulation, central regulation and the distributional consequence of policy networks.

The Government and Politics of France has been the leading textbook on French politics for over a generation, and continues to provide students with a comprehensive and incisive introduction to the intricacies of French politics and government. This edition updates every chapter, with the addition of a new chapter on France and Europe. Recent events necessitate a new edition, particularly the 2002 elections and the growing interpenetration of France and the EU in student programmes, as well as in the real world.Whether covering the shifting balance within France''s two-headed executive, the paradoxes of the French party politics, the power and fragmentation of France''s administration, the growing assertiveness of French local government, or the newly visible world of the judiciary, The Government and Politics of France has always sought to confront established paradigms with the complex and untidy reality of French politics at the grass roots.

The Government and Politics of France has been the leading textbook on French politics for over a generation, and continues to provide students with a comprehensive and incisive introduction to the intricacies of French politics and government. This edition updates every chapter, with the addition of a new chapter on France and Europe. Recent events necessitate a new edition, particularly the 2002 elections and the growing interpenetration of France and the EU in student programmes, as well as in the real world.Whether covering the shifting balance within France''s two-headed executive, the paradoxes of the French party politics, the power and fragmentation of France''s administration, the growing assertiveness of French local government, or the newly visible world of the judiciary, The Government and Politics of France has always sought to confront established paradigms with the complex and untidy reality of French politics at the grass roots.