This book investigates continuity and change in contemporary French politics, society, and culture. It: asks whether France will be able to resist the pressure from supra-national and global forces to change, or whether it will be able to retain a distinct French characteristic; examines the dynamics of the relationship between the Republic and its constituencies, in the fields of political relations, territorial identities, social movements, public policy, and foreign policy; and draws on contributions that reflect a variety of methodological approaches, ranging from theoretical speculations and modelling to the interpretation of fieldwork data.