ABSTRACT

The political obstacles to the enactment of reforms are, we have seen, erected by changes of coalitions among the parties contributing Ministers to the Government. These obstacles appear at times to be overcome. A Government may for a time enjoy power of administration by decree; or it may have a handsome and apparently indestructible majority in the National Assembly. The Government of President de Gaulle, established in the Fifth Republic after the elections of the autumn of 1958, has operated at times within both of these sets of circumstances. Yet it has recognized certain bounds set to its actions in educational matters, and these bounds are significant. They will be discussed in this and in the succeeding chapter. 1