France Restored

“A valuable contribution to the University of North Carolina Press’s 'New Cold War History' series.” — American Historical Review

“A fine example of the new Cold War history that aims at transcending a purely US-Soviet framework, France Restored provides an original, critical perspective not only of the history of the Fourth Republic but also of Europe’s first decade after World War II. . . . An eloquent, well-organized [book].” — CHOICE

“Persuasively redeeming the Fourth Republic from its earlier reputation as a feckless regime, William Hitchcock’s solidly researched study shows that its civil servants and more far-sighted political leaders ably laid the foundation for a long-term enhancement of French influence in postwar Europe. During years of vulnerability they defended their autonomy while accepting American support, and they designed imaginative institutions to benefit from a German recovery they learned could serve their own interests: the innovative capacity still at the heart of today’s European Union.” — Charles S. Maier, Harvard University

“Elegantly written and thoughtfully argued, Hitchcock’s book will be indispensable for all future debates about postwar reconstruction policy in Europe. Weaving a subtle story of domestic and international policymaking, Hitchcock shows how the French, despite their many weaknesses, managed to protect their own vital strategic and economic interests.” — Melvyn P. Leffler, University of Virginia

“This is a first-rate study of French foreign policy during the early Cold War period. The basic argument here is that French policy had a profound impact on the sort of international system that took shape in Europe in this period — and thus that the American role in shaping what went on in the West was a good deal more limited that most people think. Hitchcock makes his case quite effectively. This book shows what a talented and skillful historian can accomplish when old problems are approached in new ways, and it is exceptionally well-written to boot.” — Marc Trachtenberg, University of Pennsylvania