Contemporary France has been specially written for courses combining language study with a rigorous analysis of postwar France. It is the first book for over a decade to provide an easily accessible, up-to-date analysis of the political, economic and social developments in France since 1945, in a single volume. The politics, economics and society of France are covered in separate sections, each of which contains: * an extended original essay in English * an extensive selection of texts in French language exercises * a bibliographical essay The French language texts have been carefully chosen to illustrate themes discussed in the essays, to provide the student with a range of authentic styles of written French, and to broaden students' understanding of stylistic and grammatical features of French, as well as their comprehension and writing skills.