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

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

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.