France Since the Liberation

Between Exceptionalism and Convergence

Gino Raymond (University of Bristol, United Kingdom)

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English

Routledge
26 December 2025

Regional studies; European history; Postwar 20th century history, from c 1945 to c 2000; Colonialism & imperialism; Politics & government

Series: Routledge Studies in the Modern History of France

This book focuses on the tension between the modernising thrust that places France on a trajectory of convergence with comparable liberal democracies and the defence of a national specificity that can act as a brake, complicating France’s relationship with its neighbours, its present and its past.

This ambivalence in French political and social life stems from the conscious attempt to rebuild the nation after the trauma of Occupation during World War II and the new beginning provided by the Liberation. The government of the Fourth Republic embraced the pursuit of a modernisation that would enable it to regain its place among the world’s leading democratic states. However, this modernising ambition co-exists with the belief in a specific destiny and a unique sense of mission that are intrinsic to the emergence of a sense of nationhood after the revolution of 1789. Raymond defines a critical perspective that draws together historical, economic, social, and political issues into a coherent understanding of what makes France the way it is today.

Written with both academic rigour and a highly accessible clarity of style, this volume is a valuable resource for students, educators, and researchers in French and European Studies.

By: Gino Raymond (University of Bristol United Kingdom)
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781032637471
ISBN 10: 1032637471
Series: Routledge Studies in the Modern History of France
Pages: 256
Publication Date: 26 December 2025
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Gino Raymond is Emeritus Professor of French at Bristol University. His research interests range widely across French literature, politics, and society.