Since the end of the war politics in the Fourth French Republic has been dominated by the Popular Front alliance, comprised of the Communists, SFIO, Radicals and other minor parties. There are a number of reasons for this; primarily due the electoral system which greatly benefits parties in an electoral alliance over independent parties and the fact that the French right remains terminally split between rival electoral alliances as well as the Gaullist and Poujadist movements, both of which had significant followings at various times but were too ostracised politically to serve as coalition partners.
The success of the Second Popular Front was not always a certainty, however. In the early years of the Republic the Communists were widely mistrusted by the rest of the French left whilst the Radicals have often been willing to join with the right, if only to keep the more extreme elements of the right out of power. There have certainly been various times over the years when it looked like the Front would collapse.
How would French domestic and foreign policy evolve without this key feature of French politics?
The success of the Second Popular Front was not always a certainty, however. In the early years of the Republic the Communists were widely mistrusted by the rest of the French left whilst the Radicals have often been willing to join with the right, if only to keep the more extreme elements of the right out of power. There have certainly been various times over the years when it looked like the Front would collapse.
How would French domestic and foreign policy evolve without this key feature of French politics?