ABSTRACT
The history of French parties prior to 1940 was one of fragmentation, regional specialisation and ideological posturing. The bipolar contours of the French party system have also been challenged by the emergence of new political issues, such as those of immigration, security and the environment. Since the mid-1980s, the structure of the French party system has become far less neatly balanced. The neat symmetry of the party system in 1978 has given way to a more complex pattern of uncertain and changing contours. The French party system has been shaken to its core by problems of political, institutional and ideological coherence. Party fragility is real, but there are also countervailing forces in play. This chapter identifies three underlying causes of party continuity: institutional incentives; flexible and adaptable party organisations, cleavages and party lenses; and the absorptive capacity of the main French political traditions.
