Discusses key challenges faced by France's governors and identifies a form of governance mediated by domestic institutions, ideas and interests.

Alistair Cole is Professor of Comparative Politics at the Institute of Political Studies, Lyon and Professor of Politics at Cardiff University

Preface; 1. Governing France; 2. Reforming the state; 3. Decentralisation and local governance; 4. Europeanisation; 5. State capacity and public policy; 6. State-society relations; 7. Making sense of the state; 8. Governing and governance in France.