The Islamic Veil Affairs (2003-4 and 2009-2011), which led to the banning of Muslim girls wearing Islamic headscarves in French public schools and women wearing full-face veils in public, have raised serious concerns about the relationship between secularism and the freedom of religious expression. In Unveiling the French Republic: National Identity, Secularism, and Islam in Contemporary France, Per-Erik Nilsson engages in a careful critical analysis of the Veil Affairs. His critique, for the most part, is not on the decision of Muslim women to wear the veil but rather on the misuse of secular ideology to justify religious intolerance and mask ethnic prejudice.

At the time of its founding, few predicted that the Fifth Republic would survive. It is a regime whose obituary has been written several times over, but which stubbornly refuses to die. Adopting a chronological framework, this up-to-date study examines how the regime emerged out of the chaos of the Algerian crisis, how its political evolution has been very different from that envisaged by de Gaulle, and why it has endured. Nicholas Atkin explains the success of the Fifth Republic but likewise illustrates the underlying problems within it. As the 2002 presidential elections have shown, although there is little prospect of regime change, liberal democracy is not in a particularly healthy state. While the political narrative takes centre stage, Atkin also explores the key social, economic and international developments which have shaped the modern history of France and affected its standing both in Europe and the rest of the world.

This book follows the story of the Second French Republic from its idealistic beginnings in February 1848 to its formal replacement in December 1852 by the Second Empire. Based on original archival research, The Second French Republic gives a detailed account of the internal tensions that irrevocably weakened France’s shortest republic. During this short period French political life was buffeted by strong and often contrary forces: universal manhood suffrage, fear of socialism, the President Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, and the political ambitions of the military high command for the restoration of the monarchy.

This book aims to enhance the General Knowledge of all its readers, particularly the student fraternity and is an honest effort towards covering all genres of general awareness that may come handy for candidates of various competitive examinations.Topics Coveredi Physical and World Geography i Geography of India i World History i History of India i Indian Polity and Governance i Indian Economy i International Organisations i National Insignia and Symbols i Important Facts about India i Science i Computers and Information Technology i Sports/Games/Films/Television i Basic General Knowledge i Multiple Choice QuestionsUSP & Featuresi Simple & Lucid language.i The book has been divided into different chapters based on the subjects of study mentioned above to make it as reader-friendly as possible. i At the end of the book, a combined series of Multiple Choice Questions with Answers as been provided, which is a unique mix of all the chapters to provide a thorough revision of the entire book.i Written in accordance with the syllabus of various competitive exams & based on current trends in GK section set by the UPSC & other state bodies.Audiencei Aspirants of Civil services & State Civil Services, Combined Defence Services, Indian Engineering Services, Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Examination i MBA, MCA candidates i Candidates appearing for interviews for jobs of all kinds i Student of all ages.