Francois Mitterrand - A Study in Political Leadership (Hardcover, New)

This text is an in-depth, thematic appraisal of the long-serving President's political leadership. The work traces development of the French polity during the entire post-war period; this portrayal of Mitterrand as an individual political leader is placed in the context of the French political system. The book contends that in most respects Mitterrand's leadership was of a reactive variety: throughout his presidency he was forced to address agendas he had not selected, and react to events he had not predicted. "Francois Mitterrand: A Study in Political Leadership" begins with a chronological overview of Mitterrand's career until 1981, and proceeds with a policy-based assessment of his presidency from 1981-93, before attempting to make sense of his highly complex political persona. Mitterrand's leadership is then appraised in relation to various key themes and placed in a comparative perspective.