The Political Life of France Yesterday and Today

This course imparts an understanding of the deep political fibre of French society and the roots of contemporary French political institutions, with an emphasis on the socially structuring elements of the Fifth Republic.

Course topics include:

 A brief history of the State in France
 The French Revolution and the birth of the citizen
 Subsequent revolutions and the development of republican institutions
 Institutions and problems in the 3rd and 4th Republics
 The evolution of political forces and parties since the Revolution
 The changing role of the French State since WWII

Teaching staff:

 Pascal Cauchy:
 Antoine Picardat:

Course II:

French Society: Composition, Problems, and Place in the World

This course introduces students to the composition, cleavages, demographics and social problems of contemporary French society. It then focuses particularly on the place and role of culture as a major defining element in French society. From these bases, especially culture, demographics and the issues of a multi-cultural society, it is a natural step to examining how France has seen itself in the world in the past and how it does now.

Course topics include:

 the structure of French society
 demographics and immigration
 social problems focusing on violence, urban issues, and conflict
 work and the workplace
 cultural policy of France / culture in society
 labor movements in France, and in a European perspective
 French society and the world

Teaching staff:

 Dominique Agostini
 Jérôme Poggi
 Pierre Grosser

During the Internship Session

Course III:

Towards a European Society

This course is intended to help students develop an understanding not just of the institutions and mechanisms of European integration but also of the issues, stakes, and differing conceptions underlying the larger debate – and movement – focusing on the construction of a European society, including but not limited to its economic and monetary forms.

Course topics include:

 A Brief History of European Integration
 The European market: a zone of free exchange and free movement.
 The institutional model: between federation and inter-governmental cooperation.
 The social model: myth or reality?
 Towards a European constitution: the stakes of the convention.
 Europe’s place in the world and relations with the U.S.
 The challenge of expansion: the reunification of Europeans.
 Four stakes of sustainable development: economic integration; the network of general interest services - (SIG); European firm identity; education and research.
 Citizen participation and actors for renewing democracy.

Teaching Staff:

 Hélène Caune