Introduction -- History and legacies -- France and the French -- Politics and political culture -- Government, policy-making and the Republican State -- A social French Republic -- Culture and identity -- Economy and business -- France in the world. "Contemporary France is an accessible, interdisciplinary introduction to contemporary France, providing systematic coverage of culture, society, economy, and politics set in a historical and geographical context. A central theme is the relationship between popular images of France - flowing from its cultural, culinary, and linguistic influence, its appeal as a tourist destination, and the influence of its republican and revolutionary heritage - and the often contradictory realities of French society facing up to globalization, Europeanization and the other challenges of the 21st century. With its broad coverage of politics, culture, society, economics, and history, this text will appeal to students across a range of degree subjects."--Provided by publisher.