The French Politics and Policy Group
 

The French Politics and Policy Group is an official Specialist Group of the Political Studies Association of the UK (PSA).

The Group is chaired by Ben Clift.  The Treasurer is Jocelyn Evans
 

FRENCH POLITICAL ECONOMY: Economic Patriotism and Economic Policy

This panel explores contemporary developments within French political economy against the backdrop of the conceptual framework of ‘economic patriotism’ (EP). This panel explores what the politics of EP in France tell us about the persistent tensions between neo-liberal market integration and national economic policies, with specific reference to the European political economy and EU economic governance. We are interested in how economic patriotism is inscribed within contemporary processes of market-making, or the re-regulatory activity framing markets in contemporary Europe.

 Owen Parker (University of Warwick) Challenging ‘new constitutionalism’ in the EU: French resistance, ‘social Europe’ and ‘soft’ governance 

 Ben Clift (University of Warwick) French Economic Patriotism: Legislative, Regulatory, & Discursive Dimensions

Emiliano Grossman (Sciences-Po Paris) & Cornelia Woll (Sciences-Po Paris)  The French and the Bolkestein Directive: economic policy and public opinion

Chair & Discussant: Ben Clift

At its inception, a time of great political upheaval in France, it was uncertain whether the new regime would last five years, let alone fifty. The longevity of the regime is due in part to its flexibility and adaptability, which is one theme explored in this roundtable. The roundtable explores some of the interesting patterns and dynamics of change and continuity within the French Republic over the last 50 years. As is fitting on such an anniversary, each contribution will offer a brief historical overview of their issue area and analyse at the similarities and differences between the contemporary period and 50 years ago. The roundtable will reflect upon important elements of the Fifth Republic constitutional settlement.

Participants and their contribution titles:-

The French Party System, French Electoral Behaviour, and the French fifth Republic

 Governance and Governing in Fifth Republic France Alistair Cole (Cardiiff) 

 The Fifth Republic – its political institutions and their evolution Emiliano Grossman (& Nicolas Sauger) (CEVIPOF, Sciences Po, Paris)

The Far Right in the Fifth Republic at Fifty - electoral defeat, ideological victory? James Shields (Warwick)

The third panel, co-sponsored with the Political Leadership specialist group, is organized by Professor David Bell. 

Recent Activites

The group co-sponsored, and organised one of the panels for, this very successful event exploring the impact of recent waves of enlargement towards ten Central and Eastern European and two South-Eastern European countries which have fundamentally altered the size and the nature of the European Union. The Single Market of 27 member states now represents the largest and most densely populated integrated economic area in the world and the EU has become one of the major international organisations with increasing levels of policy coordination amongst its member states. Further waves of enlargement towards the Balkan countries, Turkey and former Soviet Union states like the Ukraine would substantially increase the political and socio-economic diversity of the EU.  The confernce explroes the politics and implications of enlargement from the perspective of a number of the 'old' member states, including France. 

Aims and membership

The Group was founded by Robert Elgie and Stephen Griggs in the 1990s. Thanks to their efforts, the group has become a successful and vibrant space for academics interested in French politics to come together, share ideas, and disseminate their research. Ben Clift took over from Robert Elgie as convenor of the Group in 2006, and Jocelyn Evans took over from Stephen Griggs as Treasurer in 2005.

The aim of the group remains the promotion of the study of French politics. Membership of the Group is open to all those engaged in teaching, research or related activities and to post-graduate students. It has also become a conduit facilitating links between French Politics Scholars in the UK and those in the US and, of course, France. The group encourages placing the study of French politics in the context of broader comparative analytical frameworks.

Future Activities

The Group holds research conferences, seminars and workshops on a regular basis. The Group also sponsors panels at the Annual Conference of the Political Studies Association of the UK, and regularly invites international (and in particular French- and US-based) speakers to join its panels. If anyone would like to propose a panel, or has an idea for a workshop, seminar or conference, then please contact Ben Clift at the address below.

The Group has close links with American Political Science Association French Politics Group, convened by Amy Mazur of Washington State University, Mazur@mail.wsu.edu. Their website is: http://www.wsu.edu/~frg/

The Group also has increasingly strong links with the association française de science politique whose bi-ennial congrès will take place in Grenoble between the 7th and 9th of September, 2009. More details on the congrès are available here. The group will be represented at the AFSP conference by Ben Clift.

Joining the Group

If you would like to join the group, then please contact either Ben Clift or Jocelyn Evans at one of the addresses below.

Membership is currently free. You can download a membership form by clicking here.