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THE STABILITY OF POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS : THE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY AND THE GAULLIST MOVEMENT, by WILLIAM R. SCHONFELD It has been taken as an established fact since Roberto Michels that political party leaders remain in office for long periods, and that this stability confers oligarchic characteristics on the power phenomena that can be observed inside these organisations. Empirical analysis of the way changes in leadership take place in the Socialist Party and the Gaullist movement show that this view has no real basis in fact. Contrary, moreover, to a view commonly held by observers of the French political system, it transpires that the new Socialist Party, which is assumed to be the archetype as regards renewing and changing its personnel, demonstrates great stability in this respect, whereas mobility among the leaders of the Gaullist movement is three times greater. [Revue française de science politique XXX (3), juin 1980, pp. 477-505.]

ADMINISTRATION AND POLITICS IN GREAT BRITAIN, ITALY AND THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, by GERARD TIMSIT AND CELINE WIENER Political power and administration : the juxtaposition of these terms used formerly to suggest a preestablished understanding involving the subordination of the latter. While nowadays it does not always imply conflict, it certainly suggests a struggle for influence between two associated but rival partners. In Great Britain and the Federal Republic of Germany, the myth of an administration which is both subordinate and separated from political power is still widely believed, but is disproved by facts. In Great Britain and Germany in fact, just as in Italy, bureaucracy is invading politics while the administration is being politicized. [Revue française de science politique XXX (3), juin 1980, pp. 506-532.]

SUBURBANISATION ET POUVOIR LOCAL PHILIPPE DRESSAYRE La suburbanisation de communes rurales situées à la périphérie de centres urbains provoque de multiples changements au sein des espaces socio-politiques locaux. Au centre de ces mutations, l'instance municipale participe à la réorganisation des rapports infra-communaux. L'étude du jeu électoral, de l'a-politisme revendiqué par les élus et de la composition du conseil municipal d'une petite commune suburbaine bretonne permet de souligner l'importance des fonctions structurelles de l'appareil politique local. La recherche d'un nouveau consensus social, notamment par la mise en œuvre d'un réseau associatif puissant mais soumis, constitue la finalité principale d'une politique de « re-communautarisation » de la micro-société suburbaine. Dans la faible marge d'autonomie qui lui est réservée, le leadership communal s'attache à développer les instruments de contrôle social qui doivent permettre de gommer les contradictions engendrées par le processus de suburbanisation d'un espace rural ébranlé. [Revue française de science politique XXX (3), juin 1980, pp. 533-539.] SUBURBANISATION AND LOCAL AUTHORITY PHILIPPE DRESSAYRE Thé suburbanisation of rural communes located at the periphery of urban centres res ponsible for great many changes in local socio-political areas At the heart of these changes the municipal authority contributes to the reorganisation of infra-commune rela tions Analysis of the electoral process the apolitical attitudes claimed by those elected and the composition of the town council of small suburban commune in Brittany underline how important the structural functions of the local political system are The main purpose of policy of re-communitarianisation of suburban micro-society is to find new social consensus in particular by setting up powerful but submissive associative network Within the small margin of autonomy at its disposal the communal leadership is endeavouring to develop the instruments of social control by which to remove the contradictions engendered by the suburbanisation of disrupted rural area Revue fran aise de science politique XXX 3) juin 1980 pp 533-559.

THE EURO-ARAB DIALOGUE : FORUM FOR THE NEW INTERNATIONAL ORDER (1973-1978), by BERNARD CORBINEAU The events of 1973 brought a new entity into Euro-Arab relations. The precarious existence and neglected or negligeable importance of the Euro-Arab dialogue should not be allowed to obliterate all the significance that it embodies. Although regional, this forum is one of the entities of the New International Order, and serves to clarify it. Both stem from the same events according to a similar procedure. Their motives, interests, topics and arguments overlap. The Euro-Arab dialogue also sheds light on relations between semi-powers, with coinciding or contradictory interests, which are seeking to position themselves as well as possible in the new regional and international divisions of labour. [Revue française de science politique XXX (3), juin 1980, pp. 560-598.]