Francois Mitterrand
A Political Biography
Polity Political Profiles Series
1. Edition August 2005
224 Pages, Hardcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
François Mitterrand was one of the giants of post-war French
politics - a master tactician whose political career spanned more
than four decades from wartime occupation to decolonization, the
Cold War to European integration. As President, elected twice, he
enjoyed an unprecedented fourteen years in office, bringing the
left to power and demonstrating that it was a credible governing
coalition over some ten years. When he died in 1998, Mitterrand
left an enduring political legacy not only on the French domestic
scene, but also in European and foreign affairs.
In this pre-eminently accessible political biography, David
Bell, offers a fascinating 'behind-the-scenes' analysis
of the politics of François Mitterrand. Bringing together a
wealth of material, Bell explores Mitterrand's political
leadership and the techniques he used in attaining and wielding
political power. Mitterrand's unusual journey from right to
left, from the Third to the Fifth Republic is a story of ambition,
manipulation and ideological fluidity, which provides a lens
through which the entire political history of post-war France may
be viewed.
This engaging assessment of one man's contribution to an
era of French and European politics will appeal to anyone
interested in contemporary political leadership, French politics,
history and European affairs.
Abbreviations
Introduction
Chapter 1 1916-1944
Chapter 2 The Fourth Republic
Chapter 3 De Gaulle's Republic
Chapter 4 The Common Programme
Chapter 5 Alliance Problems 1978-81
Chapter 6 The First Socialist Government
Chapter 7 'Cohabitation' 1986-1988
Chapter 8 Second Term 1988-92
Chapter 9 The Last Years 1991-1996
Conclusion
Bibliography
career."
Times Literary Supplement
"This is one of the best political biographies that I know. Bell
depicts Mitterrand with the bark on and pulls no punches. It is a
superbly realistic study of a totally political man."
Erwin C. Hargrove, University of Vanderbilt
"David Bell's thorough grasp of the political background
of modern France enables him to provide a fascinating account of
Mitterrand's journey from the 1930s through the war years and
the Fourth French Republic to the complicated and fluid politics of
the Fifth Republic. Mitterrand's personal beliefs are hard to
fathom, but throughout this penetrating study David Bell guides us
to a good understanding of the motivations and values which lay
behind the actions of one of the most enigmatic politicians to have
held power in France."
B. D. Graham, formerly University of Sussex
