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French Political Gambles

As French President Emmanuel Macron calls a snap election, Jonathan Freedland and guests discuss historical parallels.

As French President Emmanuel Macron calls a snap election to address the political threat to his government posed by the Far Right, Jonathan Freedland and guests discuss Louis XVI's decision in 1789 to call an Estates General, a meeting of representatives of all sections of French society. Louis' gamble in 1789 started a chain of events known as the French Revolution. What are the stakes of President Macron's gamble today?

With

Clare Siviter, Associate Professor in French Theatre at the University of Bristol

Emile Chabal, Professor of Contemporary History at the University of Edinburgh

The reader is Ewan Bailey

Producer: Luke Mulhall

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Wed 19 Jun 202421:00
BBC Radio 4

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Broadcasts

  • Tue 18 Jun 202409:00
    BBC Radio 4
  • Wed 19 Jun 202421:00
    BBC Radio 4

Podcast

  • The Long View

    History series in which stories from the past shed light on current events