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Lecture

William Tyler
The Fifth Republic: 1958-2022

Monday 9.01.2023
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Summary

France faced a number of serious problems after Liberation in 1944-45. First and foremost was the necessity of forming a democratic Government which could command popular support. De Gaulle set about this immediately by establishing a Provisional Government, and marginalising The Resistance Movement’s political ambitions. It took time for wartime divisions to heal.

France’s withdrawal from Empire was no easier than it was for other European colonial powers. For France it included the Algerian War (1954-62), and the humiliating defeat in Indochina at Dien Bien Phu (1954).

The Provisional Republic was followed by The Fourth Republic in 1946-58 (with a constitution based around the Third Republic’s). De Gaulle, who had resigned when The Fourth Republic began, was recalled.

De Gaulle had to deal with yet another serious threat to France in May, 1968. In 1969, he resigned, followed by his death in 1970. In his time, he is considered to have rebuilt France into a leading European power on the global stage.

The election of Mitterrand as President of France underlined the effectiveness of the constitution. It has survived to remain a powerful example of European liberal democracy today.

History 653 lectures
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William Tyler

 An image of William Tyler
William Tyler has spent his entire professional life in adult education, beginning at Kingsgate College in 1969. He has lectured widely for many public bodies, including the University of Cambridge and the WEA, in addition to speaking to many clubs and societies. In 2009, William was awarded the MBE for services to adult education, and he has previously been a scholar in residence at the London Jewish Cultural Centre. Link to William’ s blog with recommended book lists for his Lockdown lectures.
It was the intensity in France that was unique when it was done by ordinary communities. France was more divided, shall we say, than the Dutch were or even the Belgians.
No, it wasn’t. And the reason is the French had already done a deal before they went into Suez for money from the International Monetary Fund. The British had not. And Harold Macmillan as Chancellor of the Exchequer had to go cap in hand to try and get money. It was the financial, the French were, were far more organized over Suez than were the British. The British, the whole of the planning for it was, was typically British. It wasn’t a well organized operation from the British point of view politically. And it was from the French point of view. And thus the French were able, I think, to deal with it in a much, it became such an issue between the political parties in Britain.
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