This book explores the origins and identity of the Fifth Republic Constitution, developed between 1958 and 1962. Chapter I outlines the hallmarks of the French republican tradition, its internal diversity, and the crisis of the political system established by the Third Republic. Chapter II focuses on de Gaulle’s views shaped by republican nationalism and his recognition of the republic as a permanent aspect of France's existence, highlighting his role in reconstructing the republican order during and after World War II. Chapter III analyzes the concepts from the 1930s reformatory movement that influenced the Fifth Republic's founders. Chapter IV presents de Gaulle's original political vision alongside the constitutional thoughts of Michel Debré and René Capitant, discussing rationalized parliamentarism and democratic republicanism, as well as the evolution of Gaullian constitutional thought from 1947 to 1951, including critiques of European integration's federal forms. Chapter V details how de Gaulle implemented political change in 1958 and outlines the core principles of the Fifth Republic Constitution. The final chapter addresses the vitality and enduring identity of the Fifth Republic, examining connections between the Polish constitutional tradition and de Gaulle’s political contributions, while emphasizing the universal values derived from studying the Constitution's origins and identity.
