Britain & France: Introduction

Some core features: Liberal democracies Former great powers –major European has-beens? –Former colonial powers EU member states Unitary systems (but not without ‘strain’) Executive power concentrated in both

Some differences UK Monarchy Parliamentary system Unwritten constitution: (uncodified) 2-3 party politics ‘Weaker’ central state Pluri-national state –asymmetrical France Republic Semi-presidential Freq. regime changes (until recently) Multiparty politics Etatist tradition The one & indivisible French Republic – symmetrical

Assembling the British state Acts of Union –Wales: –Scotland: 1707 –Ireland: early 19 th c Asymmetrical –Different arrangements for Scotland, Wales & (Northern) Ireland

UK Constitutional development Gradual – but product of severe conflicts, generally resolved one by one Un-codified constitution: most important parts rooted in convention, filled out by parties Underlying principle: parliamentary sovereignty Still in process: –Devolution –Position of the House of Lords

Building the French State Monarchs struggle to assert control Early construction of a centralized state (Louis XIII, Louis XIV) French revolution as turning point, divide Since then, history of regime change –Two periods of empire –Two periods of monarchy –Five republics –Intervening regimes (provisional, Vichy..)

Left v. Right Constitutional –Monarchy v. Republic –Presidential v. Assembly-dominated republic Centre v. periphery Role of the Church: a secular v. Catholic Republic Distribution: who gets what

Constitutional changes From First to Second Empire Third Republic ( ) –Assembly dominated regime, stalemate society Fourth Republic ( ) Fifth Republic (1958-present) –Birth in threatened military insurrection –De Gaulle’s vision: need of a strong presidency –Beyond De Gaulle: presidential power tamed?

State-building & etatism Use of the central state To control the territory: through 92 departments, uniformly administered by prefects To shape national identity through education To modernize the economy: –Dirigiste tradition: Indicative planning Use of national champions

Shaping the French state Training administrators: Grandes écoles, e.g. –Ecole Polytechnique (Napoleon) –Science Politique (1880s) –Ecole Nationale d’Adminstration (ENA), establ Grandes corps – interlace the state bureaucracy –Council of State –Inspectorate of Finance –Bridges & Roads… –Prefects

Contrast to Britain British reliance on received institutions –Cf. Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, Edinburgh as feeders for state bureaucracy “Science of muddling through” vs. Cartesian logic -- cf. British tolerance for asymmetry Others?