The twelfth volume of the France Yearbook continues an initiative of the Working Group for Social Science Research on France at the Franco-German Institute. The yearbook aims to contribute to a better understanding of France for a wider audience. It is not intended as a collection of specialized studies, which should continue to appear in the relevant journals of individual disciplines. The France Yearbook moves forward. It seeks to uncover connections and present them in a way that is enlightening for all those engaged in politics, economics, culture, and education related to French issues or who are generally interested in our most important neighbor. In other words, it aims to provide the background knowledge that contributes to understanding.