Bourgeois Politics in France, 1945 1951

This book is the first general study of politics and society in the Fourth Republic to be founded on extensive primary research. It approaches the period in terms of successful conservatism rather than thwarted reform, maintaining that conservatism in France was a more subtle and dynamic force than has preciously been appreciated. Not the preserve of any single party, conservative ideas were often defended by institutions outside the realm of explicit politics altogether, such as business associations, civil service departments and the law courts. It is proposed that conservatives did not simply return to French politics in 1945 untouched by the events of the previous five years. The experiences of Vichy, the occupation and the purges produced new kinds of political synthesis, making conservatives more receptive to change than their 'progressive' opponents.

1. Introduction; 2. Historiographic overview; 3. International comparisons; 4. Notables; 5. Bourgeois parties and the female electorate; 6. Organized business and politics; 7. Administration; 8. Opposition nationale; 9. The Parti Republicain de la Liberté; 10. Machine á ramasser les Pétainistes?; 11. The Rassemblement des Gauches Républicaines; 12. The Rassemblement du Peuple Français; 13. Independents and Peasants; 14. The Groupement de Défense des Contribuables; 15. Conclusion.