ABSTRACT
In Charles de Gaulle’s mind, the granting of independence to France’s former colonies and the liquidation of the Algerian war were essential steps to redefine France’s place in the world. The Gaullist concept of politics involved not only establishment of an independent foreign policy, but also creation of a government capable of acting decisively in domestic affairs. The solid popularity of the Fifth Republic during most of the 1960s was due both to its success in ending the Algerian crisis and to its ability to provide conditions favoring economic prosperity. The modernization of agriculture paralleled the growth of manufacturing. Between 1959 and 1970, France emerged from the middle of the pack of leading industrial countries to achieve a growth rate second only to Japan. The political evolution that had begun in 1965 continued in the years afterward, as parties and leaders tried to position themselves for the post–de Gaulle future.
