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Professor Alistair Cole

Overview

Alistair Cole Position: Professor of Politics Email: ColeA@cardiff.ac.uk
 Telephone: +44(0)29 2087 5068
Fax: +44(0)29 2087 4946
Extension: 75068
Location: Room 1.06, 65-68 Park Place

My research interest lies in the sphere of contemporary and comparative European politics and policy, with special (but not exclusive) reference to France and Franco-British comparisons. My core intellectual interests have long since extended beyond those of France, however fascinating that particular EU state. My reputation has been forged over the past decade (or so) as a result of a string of funded research projects that have allowed me to develop a broad comparative research agenda in governance: territorial and multi-level governance (especially comparative devolution), public administration and the State, public policy (education, training, research, the knowledge economy), Europeanisation and European Integration (mainly through the specific lens of the Franco-German relationship and of Franco-British relations). These distinct fields converge around a set of research questions around the related themes of governance and capacity building.

My most recent books include Dictionnaire des politiques territoriales (co-edited with Romain Pasquier and Sebastien Guigner, Presses de Sciences Po, 2011), Redefining the Republic (co-edited with Gino Raymond, Manchester University Press, 2010) Governing and Governance in France (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008) Beyond Devolution and Decentralisation: Building Regional Capacity in Wales and Brittany (Manchester University Press, 2006), Developments in French Politics 4 (Palgrave, 2008, which I co-edited with Patrick Le Galès and Jonah Levy), and French Politics and Society (Longman, 2005). I have published across a large range and scope in many of the leading political science and area studies journals and I have also written around 45 chapters in edited books (see biography)

I am a founder member of the European Governance, Identity and Public Policy research unit and co-chair of the Wales Governance Centre.

Membership of professional societies and Esteem Indicators

  • Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, 2011-
  • Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales, 2011-
  • Member of the Franco-British Council, 2010-2014
  • 2010-2014 Vice-Chair of the (ESRC) Economic and Social Research Council’s Panel B
  • Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, 2009-
  • Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, 2009-

Selected Publications

Romain Pasquier, Sébastien Guigner and Alistair Cole (eds) Dictionnaires des politiques territoriales Press: Presses de Sciences Po.

Alistair Cole (2008) Governing and Governance in France Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Alistair Cole, Patrick Le Galès and Jonah Levy (eds) (2008) Developments in French Politics 4, Palgrave: Basingstoke.

Alistair Cole (2006) Beyond Devolution and Decentralisation.  Building Regional Capacity in Wales and Brittany Manchester: Manchester University Press.

Alistair Cole and Gino Raymond (eds) (2006) Redefining the French Republic Manchester: Manchester University Press.

Alistair Cole, French Politics and Society, Harlow: Pearson Education, 2005. Second edition. 298pp.

Research Unit

European Governance, Identities & Public Policy

Publications

Authored books

Romain Pasquier, Sébastien Guigner and Alistair Cole (eds) Dictionnaires des politiques territoriales Press: Presses de Sciences Po, 584pp. (ISBN: 978-2-7246-1214-1)

Alistair Cole and Gino Raymond (eds.) Redefining the French Republic, Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2010, 1996pp. (ISBN: 978-0-7190-7151-5)

Alistair Cole Governing and Governance in France, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2008, pp. 249

Alistair Cole, Patrick le Galès and Jonah Levy (eds) Developments in French Politics 4 Basingstoke, Palgrave, 2008, pp. 316

Alistair Cole (2006) Beyond Devolution and Decentralisation. Building Regional Capacity in Wales and Brittany Manchester: Manchester University Press.

Alistair Cole, French Politics and Society, Harlow: Pearson Education, 2005. Second edition. 298pp

Alistair Cole and Michèle Breuillard  L’École entre Etat et territoires en Angleterre et en France, Paris: l’Harmattan, 2003.106pp.

Alistair Cole and Peter John  Local Governance in England and France Routledge: London, 2001. 220pp.

Alistair Cole Franco-German Relations Longman: Harlow, 2001. 198pp.

Alistair Cole, French Politics and SocietyPrentice Hall,  Hemel Hempstead, 1998.  250pp.

Alistair Cole, François Mitterrand: a Study in Political Leadership, Routledge, London, 1997, 225 pp. Second Edition.

Alistair Cole, François Mitterrand: a Study in Political Leadership, Routledge, London, 1994, 220 pp.

Henri Mendras and Alistair Cole, Social Change in Modern France: Towards a Cultural Anthropology of the Fifth Republic, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 253 pp., 1991.

Alistair Cole (ed.), French Political Parties in Transition, Dartmouth, Aldershot, 221 pp., 1990.

Alistair Cole and Peter Campbell, French Electoral Systems and Elections since 1789, Gower, Aldershot, 202 pp., 1989.

Refereed journal articles

Cole, A. (2011) ‘Prefects in Search of a Role in a Europeanised France’ Journal of Public Policy, vol. 31, no. 3, pp. 385–407.

Cole, A (2011) ‘The French Socialist Party and its Radical Ambiguity’ French Politics, Culture and Society, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 29-48.

Cole, A., and Palmer, R. (2011) ‘Europeanising Devolution: Wales and the European Union’, British Politics, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 379-396

Cole, A. (2010) ‘State Reform in France: From Public Service to Public Management?’ Perspectives on European Politics and Society, Vol. 11, No. 4, 343–357, December.

Cole, A. and Eymeri-Douzans, J.-M. (2010) ‘Administrative reforms and mergers in Europe: Research questions and empirical challenges International Review of Administrative Sciences, 76,3: 395–406 (Special issue co-editor)

Harguindéguy, J.-B. and Cole, A. (2009) ‘La politique linguistique de la France à l’épreuve des revendications ethnoterritoriales’, Revue Française de Science Politique 59, 5 : 939-967.

Cole, A., and Palmer, R. (2008) 'Logiques de territorialité et de régionalisation en Europe de l’Ouest' Revue d'Etudes Comparatives Est-Ouest, 39 : 3, 19-36

Cole, A. (2008) ‘Heading the Republic’. Contemporary French and Francophone Studies, 12:2, 183-191.

Cole, A. and Harguindeguy, J.-B. (2009) 'Multiculturalisme et politique linguistique :  la république contre les langues régionales? Revue Française de Science Politique 59, 5 : 939-967..

Cole, A., and Palmer, R. (2008) 'Logiques de territorialité et de régionalisation en Europe de l’Ouest'  Revue d'Etudes Comparatives Est-Ouest, 39 : 3, 19-36

Cole, A. (2008) ‘Heading the Republic’. Contemporary French and Francophone Studies, 12:2, 183-191.

Cole, A. and Evans, J. (2007) ‘Utilisation de l’Échelle de Moreno en France et au Royaume Uni’, Revue Internationale de Politique Comparée, 14, 4: 545-573.

Cole, A. (2007) ‘La Territorialisation de l’action publique au Royaume Uni’, Revue Française d’Administration Publique, 121-122: 131-144.

Cole, A. (2006) ‘Descentralizarea din Franta’, Altera, 30/31, 5-29

Cole, A. (2006) ‘La politique locale de lutte contre  la délinquance en Angleterre’. Revue Lamy, 14 : 81-83.

Cole, A. (2006) ‘Decentralization in France: Central Steering, Capacity Building and Identity Construction’, French Politics, vol. 4, pp. 31-57.
 
Cole, A. and Jones, G. (2005) ‘Reshaping the State: Administrative reform and New Public Management in France’, Governance vol. 18. no. 4, pp. 567-588.

Cole, A. (2004) ‘La Contractualisation vue par un observateur étranger’, Administration et Education, 104: 4, pp. 107-114.

Cole, A. and Williams, C. (2004) ‘Institutions, Identities and Lesser-Used Languages in Wales and Brittany’, Regional and Federal Studies, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 1-26.

Cole, A. (2004) ‘Devolution and decentralization in Wales and Brittany: a framework for analysis’, International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, vol. 28, no. 2, 2004, pp. 354-368.

Cole, A.  and Baudewyns, P. (2004) ‘Devolution, Decentralization and Public Opinion in Wales and Brittany’, Comparative European Politics, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 73-96.

Cole, A. (2003)  ‘La Nouvelle gouvernance de l’éducation en France’ Administration et Education, Spring, pp. 86-102.

Cole, A.,  Jones J. B.,  and Storer, A. ( 2003) ‘Inside the National Assembly for Wales’ Political Quarterly vol. 74, no. 2, pp. 223-232.

Cole, A., Jones, J.B.,  Loughlin, J., Storer A. and Williams C. (2003) ‘Political Institutions, Policy Preferences and Public Opinion in Wales and Brittany’ Contemporary Wales 16: 88-110.

Cole, A. and Loughlin, J. (2003)  ‘Beyond the Unitary State? Public Opinion, Political Institutions and Public Policy in Brittany’, Regional Studies, vol. 37, no. 3, pp. 265-276.

Cole, A. (2002)  ‘A Strange Affair. The French presidential and parliamentary elections of 2002’ Government and Opposition, vol, 37, no. 3, pp. 65-91.

Cole. A (2002)  ‘Understanding Jospin’. In A. Cole (ed.) ‘The Jospin Government 1997-2002’ Modern and Contemporary France, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 1-4, 2002.

Cole, A. (2001)   ‘The New Governance of French Education’  Public Administration, vol. 79, no. 3, 2001, pp.707-724.

Cole, A. (2001)  ‘National and Partisan contexts of Europeanisation: the case of the French socialists’,  Journal of Common Market Studies, vol. 39, no. 1. March,  pp.15-32.
 
John, P and Cole, A. (2000)  ‘When do countries, sectors and localities matter’?  Comparative Political Studies, vol 33, no, 2,  March, pp. 248-268.

Cole, A.  and Drake, H. (2000)  ‘The Europeanisation of French Polity?  Continuity, Change and Adaptation’, Journal of European Public Policy, vol 7, no. 1, pp. 26-43.

John, P.  and Cole, A. (1999)  ‘Political Leadership in the New Urban Governance: Britain and France Compared’,  Local Government Studies, vol 25,  no. 4,   Winter, pp. 98-115.

Cole, A.  (1999)  ‘The Service Public under Stress’, West European Politics, vol. 22, no. 4, October, pp. 166-184.

Cole, A. (1999) ‘French Socialism in Office: Lessons from Mitterrand and Jospin’, Modern and Contemporary France, vol. 7, no. 1 February, pp. 71-88.

Cole, A. (1998)  ‘Political Leadership in Western Europe: Kohl’s Leadership in Comparative Perspective’,German Politics, vol 7, no. 1, April 1998,  pp. 120-142.

John, P. and A. Cole (1998) ‘Urban Regimes in Leeds and Lille’ Urban Affairs Review, vol 33, no.3 January, pp.  382- 404.
 
Cole, A. (1997)  ‘Mitterrand’s past: a Review Article’Modern and Contemporary France, vol. 5, no.3, August, pp. 32-4.

Cole, A. (1997)  ‘Governing the Academies: Sub-central Education policy-making in France’ West European Politics,    vol. 20, no. 2,  April, pp. 137-156.

John. P. and Cole, A. (1997)  ‘Urban regimes in Britain and France? The cases of Leeds and Lille’,  Frontières, no. 9, pp. 37-50.

Cole, A. (1995)   ‘Les  réseaux locaux de politique publique: le cas de la métropole de Lille’, Les Cahiers du CRAPS, 20, December, pp. 1-20.

John, P. and Cole, A. (1995) ‘Models of Local Decision-Making Networks in Britain and France’, Policy and Politics, October, pp. 1-10.

Cole, A.  and P. John (1995)  'Local Policy Networks in Britain and France: Policy Co-ordination in Fragmented Political sub-systems', West European Politics, vol. 18, no. 4, October, pp. 88-108.

Cole, A. (1995)  ‘La France pour tous? - The French Presidential Elections’Government and Opposition, vol. 30, no. 3, Summer, pp. 327-346.

Cole, A. (1994) ‘Studying Political Leadership: the case of François Mitterrand’ Political Studies,  vol.42  no.4  September. pp. 453-468.

Cole, A. (1994)  ‘La Descente aux enfers? The French Greens' General Assembly at Lille, November 1993’, Environmental Politics, vol. 2, no. 3, September, pp.225-232.

Cole, A. (1994)  'François Mitterrand: an  Interpretation'Modern and Contemporary France, Vol. NS2, no. 1, January,  pp.  3-13.

Cole, A. (1993)  'France and the new Germany', German Politics, vol. 2, no. 3, December, pp. 358-376.

Cole, A. (1993)  'The Presidential Party and the Fifth Republic', West European Politics,  vol. 16, no. 2, April, pp. 86-103.

Cole, A. (1989) `The French Municipal Elections of 12 and 19th March 1989', Modern and Contemporary France, no. 39, October, pp. 23-34.

Cole, A. (1989)  `The French Socialist Party in Transition', Modern and Contemporary France, no. 37, April, pp. 1-10.

Cole, A. (1989)  `Factionalism, the French Socialist Party, and the Fifth Republic: an Explanation of Intra-party Divisions', European Journal of Political Research, vol. 17, no. 1, January, pp. 77-94.

Cole, A. (1986)  `The Return of the Right: the French General Election of March 1986', West European Politics, vol. 9, no. 1, October, pp. 225-32.

Edited books

Alistair Cole and Gino Raymond (eds.) Redefining the French Republic, Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2010, 1996pp.(ISBN: 978-0-7190-7151-5)

Alistair Cole, Patrick Le Galès and Jonah Levy (eds) (2008) Developments in French Politics 4, Palgrave: Basingstoke.

Alistair Cole and Gino Raymond (eds) (2006) Redefining the French Republic Manchester:Manchester University Press.

Alistair Cole, Patrick Le Galès and Jonah Levy(eds) (2005) Developments in French Politics 3, Palgrave: Basingstoke.

Chapters in books

Cole, A. (2011) ‘Logiques de Territorialité et de régionalisation en Europe de l’Ouest’ In Barone, S. (ed.) Les Politiques régionales en France Paris : la Decouverte, pp.187-203.

Cole A, (2011) ‘Dévolution’. In Romain Pasquier, Sébastien Guignier and Alistair Cole (eds.) Dictionnaire des politiques territoriales Paris: Presses de Sciences Po.

Cole, A. (2011) ‘Reforming the State in France: From Public Service to Public Management?’ In Eymeri, J.-M. and Pierre, J. (eds) Administrative Reforms and Democratic Governance London: Routledge, pp. 149-161.

Cole, A. and Thuriot, F. (2010) ‘La dévolution et les politiques culturelles : le Pays de Galles et l’Ecosse’. In Diane Saint Pierre and Claudine Audet (eds), Tendances et défis des politiques culturelles : Cas nationaux en perspectives, Québec : Presses de l’Université Laval, pp. 321-344

2. Cole, A. (2010) ‘France’. In J. Loughlin, F. Hendriks and A. Lidstrom (eds) The Oxford Handbook of Local and Regional Democracy Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 307-330

Cole, A. (2010) ‘Franco-German Europe’. In Dyson. K., and Sepos, A. (eds) Which Europe ? The Politics of Differentiated Integration Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 156-169

Cole, A. (2010) ‘La Réforme territoriale et les deux visages de la décentralisation’ In Nemery, J.-C. (ed.) Quelles Perspectives pour la Réforme territoriale Harmattan : Paris, pp. 341-347

Jones, G. and Cole, A. (2009) ‘Administrative Reform in France’ . In Shaun F. Goldfinch and Joe L. Wallis Handbook of Public Administration, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar, pp. 220-234.

Cole, A. (2008) ‘Franco-German Relations: from Active to Reactive Co-operation'. In Jack Hayward (ed.) Leaderless Europe Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 147-166.

Cole, A. (2010) ‘La Réforme territoriale et les deux visages de la décentralisation’ . In Nemery, J.-C. (ed.) Quelles Perspectives pour la Réforme territoriale Harmattan : Paris, pp. 341-347

Jones, G. and Cole, A. (2009) ‘Administrative Reform in France’ . In Shaun F. Goldfinch and Joe L. Wallis Handbook of Public Administration, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar, pp. 220-234.

Cole, A. and Thuriot, F. (2009) ‘La dévolution et les politiques culturelles : le Pays de Galles et l’Ecosse’. In Diane Saint Pierre and Claudine Audet (eds), Tendances et défis des politiques culturelles II : Cas nationaux en perspectives, Québec : Presses de l’Université Laval, pp.

Cole, A. (2008) ‘Franco-German Relations: from Active to Reactive Co-operation'. In Jack Hayward (ed.) A Leaderless Europe Oxford: OUP.

Levy, J. D., Cole, A., and Le Galès, P. (2008)  'From Chirac to Sarkozy: A New France?'  In Alistair Cole,  Patrick le Galès and Jonah Levy (eds)  Developments in French Politics 4 Basingstoke, Palgrave pp. 1-21

Cautrès, B. and Cole, A. (2008) 'The 2007 French elections and beyond '. In Alistair Cole,  Patrick le Galès and Jonah Levy (eds)   Developments in French Politics 4 Basingstoke, Palgrave pp. 22-41

Cole, A. (2007) ‘France as periphery? The Challenge of Change’. In  Altink, H., and Gemie, S. (eds) At the Border. Margins and Peripheries in Modern France, Cardiff: University of Wales Press, pp. 25-39.

Cole, A. (2006) ‘La fonction publique galloise à l’heure de la dévolution’. In Dreyfus, Françoise, Eymeri, Jean-Michel Science Politique de l’Administration : une approche comparative  Paris : Economica, pp.  153-169.

Cole, A. (2005) ‘Education and Educational Governance’. In A. Cole, P. Le Galès and J. Levy (eds) Developments in French Politics 3 Basingstoke: Palgrave, pp. 195-211.

Cole, A. (2005) ‘Territorial Politics and Welfare Development in France’. In McEwen, N., and Moreno, L. (eds) The Territorial Politics of Welfare London: Routledge, pp. 85-102.

Cole, A. (2005) ‘Beharrung und Wandel im heutigen Frankriech’ in Frankreich Jahrbuch 2004. Reformpolitik in Frankreich, Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, pp. 29-45

Cole, A. (2004) ‘The Presidential and Legislative Election Campaigns of 2002: A Strange Play in Four Acts’ . In J. Gaffney (ed.) The French Presidential and Legislative Elections of 2002 Aldershot: Ashgate, pp. 34-56

Cole, A. (2003)  ‘Stress, Strain and Stability in the French Party System’. In J. Evans (ed.) The French Party System, Manchester: Manchester University Press, pp. 11-26.

 Cole, A. (2003) ‘Beyond exceptionalism? Changing patterns of local and regional governance in France’. In J. Ruane, J. Todd and A. Mandeville (eds) Europe’s Old States in the New World Order. The Politics of Transition in Britain, France and Spain Dublin: University of Dublin Press, pp. 84-100

Cole, A. (2003) ‘Un laboratoire de richesses : Administration territoriale, gouvernance régionale et adaptation  locale en Grande-Bretagne’. In J.-C. Nemery (ed.)  Décentralisation et Intercommunalité en France et en Europe, Paris: L’Harmattan, pp. 31-58

   Cole, A. (2003) ‘Le Pays de Galles’. In G. Marcou (ed.) Les Régions en Europe entre l’Etat et les collectivités locales Paris: French Interior Ministry (Centre d’Etudes et de Prévision) pp. 217-235.

Cole, A. (2002)  ‘Déconcentration et décentralisation en France et en Grande-Bretagne’. In J.-P. Alliné and R. Carrier (eds) Le Prefet et le developpement local, Paris: Dalloz, pp. 180-202.

Cole, A.  and A. Storer (2002)   ‘Political Dynamics in the Assembly. An Emerging Policy Community’. In J., Barry Jones and J. Osmond (eds) Building a Civic Culture, Cardiff: Institute of Welsh Affairs,  pp. 257-270.

Cole, A.(2000)  ‘The Service Publique under Stress’. In R.Elgie (ed.) The Changing French Political System, London: Frank Cass, pp.166-184.

John, P.  and A. Cole (2000), ‘Political Leadership in the new Urban Governance: Britain and France compared’.  In  L. Pratchett (ed.)  Renewing Local Democracy? The Modernisation Agenda in British Local Government London: Frank Cass, pp. 98-115.

John, P. and A. Cole, ‘Policy Networks and Local Political Leadership in Britain and France’. In  G. Stoker (ed.)  The New Politics of British Local Governance  Basingstoke: Macmillan,  2000,  pp. 72-90.

Cole, A.  ‘Das französische Parteiensystem in den 90er Jahren: Wandlungstendenzen une Erklärungsmuster’.  In S. Ruß, J.Schild, J.Schmidt and I. Stephan (eds) Parteien in Frankreich: Kontinuität und Wandel in der V. RepublikOpladen: Leske und Budrich, 2000, pp. 35-56.

Cole, A.  ‘The Party system: the End of Old Certainties?’, in G. Raymond (ed.) Structures of Power in Modern France Basingstoke, Macmillan, 2000, pp. 19-38.

John, P.  and A. Cole ‘Political Leadership in the New Urban Governance: Britain and France Compared’. In  L. Pratchett (ed.)  Renewing Local Democracy? The Modernisation Agenda in British Local Government London: Frank Cass, 2000, pp. 98-115

Cole, A.  ‘Un regard britannique sur la question de l’autonomie locale’, in La Caisse des dépôts, Quel Avenir pour l’autonomie des collectivités locales Paris: Editions de l’Aube, 1999, pp. 129-158.
 
Cole, A.  ‘Les Réseaux et l’espace publique: leçons de France et de Grande-Bretagne’. In B. François and E. Neveu, Espaces Publics Mosaïques: Acteurs, arènes et rhétoriques des débats publics contemporains Rennes: Presses Universitaires de Rennes, 1999, pp.249-266.

John, P.  and A. Cole, ‘Sociometric mapping techniques and the comparison of policy networks: economic decision making in Leeds and Lille’, in D. Marsh (ed.) Comparing Policy Networks Open University Press, Buckingham, 1998, pp. 132-146.

Cole, A.  ‘Political Leadership in Western Europe: Kohl’s Leadership in Comparative Perspective’,  in C. Clemens and W. Paterson (eds), The Kohl Chancellorship London: Frank Cass, 1998,   pp. 120-142.

Cole, A. ‘The Political Leader and his Heritage’, in M. Maclean (ed.) The Mitterrand Years: Legacy and Evaluation Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1998, pp. 246-260.

Cole, A.   ‘Réseaux locaux et politiques publiques à Lille et à Rennes’ in D. Paris (ed.) Nord-Pas-de-Calais: changement régional et dynamique des territoires Lille: ORHA, 1997,   pp.281-295.

Cole, A. ‘The Mitterrand Legacy’ in J.Gaffney and L.Milne (eds), The French Presidential Election of 1995  Aldershot: Avebury, 1997,  pp. 43-54.

Cole, A. ‘The French Socialists and the European Union’ in J. Gaffney (ed.), Political Parties in the European Union  London: Routledge, 1996, pp. 71-85.

Cole, A.  and P. John ‘ Les Réseaux locaux de politique publique en France et en Grande-Bretagne’. In P. Le Galès and M. Thatcher (eds. ) Les Réseaux de politique publique: débats autour des ‘policy networks’ Paris: L'Harmattan, 1995,  pp. 211-227.

Cole, A.  and B. Doherty, ‘The French Greens at the Crossroads’. In C. Rootes  and D. Richardson (eds. )The Green Political Challenge London, Routledge, 1995, pp. 45-65.

Cole, A. ‘A House Divided: the French Socialist Party'’. In G. Raymond (ed.), France during the Socialist Years Aldershot: Dartmouth, 1994, pp. 64-89.

Cole, A.`The Evolution of the Party System'.  In A. Cole, French Political Parties in Transition Aldershot: Dartmouth, 1990, pp. 3-24. 

Cole, A.  ‘The Return of the Orleanist Right: the Union for French Democracy’. In A. Cole, French Political Parties in Transition, pp. 106-139.

Cole, A.  ‘François Mitterrand: from Republican Contender to President of All the French’. In J. Gaffney (ed.)  The French Presidential Elections of 1988 Aldershot, Dartmouth, 1989, pp. 37-56.

Cole, A.  ‘François Mitterrand: la France unie’.  In J. Gaffney (ed.) The French Presidential Elections of 1988  pp. 81-100.

Editorship of journals

A. Cole and J,-M. Eymeri-Douzans (eds) ‘Administrative reforms and mergers in Europe: Research questions and empirical challenges International Review of Administrative Sciences, 76,3: 395–406 (Special issue co-editor)

A. Cole (ed.) ‘The Jospin Government 1997-2002’ Modern and Contemporary France, vol. 10, no. 3, 2002.

Reports, briefings and working papers

Cole, A. (2006) ‘La décentralisation française vue de l’autre côté de la manche’ Actualité Juridique : Droit Administratif  7 :337.

A. Cole ‘Governing and Governance in France’. Final report to the British Academy, July 2006, on the British Academy Larger Research Grant of £14,596. Grant no: LRG-37213.

Cole, A. (2005) ‘The Grand Design of the European Project’ Times Higher Education Supplement, 2 December, p. 6.

Cole, A. (2004) ‘What’s Distinctive about Wales? Findings from a comparison of Wales with Brittany’. Briefing no. 10, June 2004. ESRC Devolution and Constitutional Change Programme. 4pp.

A.Cole (principal investigator), J.B. Jones, J. Loughlin and C. Williams ‘Devolution and Centralisation in Wales and Brittany’. ESRC grant L215292007. Evaluation: Outstanding. June 2003.

Cole, A.  and Storer, A.  (2002) ‘From Opportunity to Obituary?’ Agenda, Spring 2002.

A. Cole and M. Breuillard ‘La Gouvernance du Changement éducatif en France et en Grande-Bretagne’. Final report for the GRALE-CNRS programme on ‘Inter-Territorialité et Performance Institutionnelle’ June 2002. Report accepted.

Cole, A. (2001) ‘Le point de vue d’Alistair Cole’ Ouest-France, 23 November 2001.

Cole, A.  with J. B. Jones and A. Storer  (2001) ‘Warming to the Assembly’ The Western Mail, 6th August, 2001.

A. Cole ‘The governance of Education in England and France’. Report presented to the Nuffield Foundation, July 2000. Report accepted.

Cole, A.  and H. Drake (1998) ‘The Europeanisation of French Politics’? Economic and Political Weekly,  29 August , pp. 99-106.

John, P.  and A.Cole (1998) ‘A very different political animal’, Municipal Journal, 13 March, pp. 22-3.

P. John.  and A. Cole ‘Local Policy Networks and Intergovernmental Management in Britain and France: Final Report to the ESRC’. 30 April 1996. Report accepted. Evaluation: Good.  

A. Cole ‘Local Policy Networks in France and Britain’, Research report. Presented to the Leverhulme Foundation. 28th February 1996. Report accepted.

A. Cole, ‘François Mitterrand: a Political Biography’. Report presented to the Nuffield Foundation, May 1993. Report accepted.

Other publications

Media Contributions

‘ ‘Les primaires socialistes’ Radio France Londres, 8th October 2011

‘Les Socialistes français et leur avenir’ Radio France Londres, 6th July 2011

‘Le Pen in France’. Australian National Radio, January 2011

Small countries and the global crisis’ BBC 2 Wales (July 1st 2009). Interview

‘The European Election’ Good Morning Wales, BBC Radio Wales, June 8th 2009

‘The Lisbon Treaty’ Good Morning Wales, BBC Radio Wales, March 6th 2008

‘The Welsh language’. 30 minute long interview for the Analysis programme BBC Radio 4

‘The legacy of Tony Blair’ Radio Monte Carlo, 11th May 2007

‘The French Presidential Election: second ballot’. Sky News election night academic correspondent, 6th May 2007

‘The French Presidential Election: second ballot’. Interview with Reuters, 6th May 2007

‘The French Presidential Election: after the first ballot’. CNN, 23rd April, 2007

‘The French Presidential Election: first ballot’. Sky News election night academic correspondent, 22nd April 2007

‘The French Presidential Election: issues and the campaign. CNN, 20th  April, 2007

‘After the French referendum’ BBC Radio-Wales, 31st May 2005

‘Europe in the Election Campaign’. BBC Radio-Wales, 6th May 2005

‘The French Presidential Election’ BBC Radio 4 ‘The World at One’, 29th April, 2002

‘On the Death of François Mitterrand’, BBC Radio-Wales, 13th January 1996

Research

I have obtained research funding from the Economic and Social Research Council, the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, the British Academy, the Leverhulme Foundation, the Nuffield Foundation and the Fondation de France. I have also carried out consultancy work for the French Interior and Education ministries. 

The most significant projects are presented in chronological order:

2008-2010. ‘Seminar Series on Devolution’  HEFCW Third Mission grant (£12,000)

2006-2008: ‘Seminar Series on Devolution’  HEFCW Third Mission grant (£10,450)

2006–2007: ‘Governing and Governance in France’. AHRC grant AH/E 000134  £33,295.

2004-2006: ‘Governing and Governance in France’. British Academy Larger Research Grant of £14,596. Grant no: LRG-37213

2001-2003: ‘Devolution and Decentralisation in Wales and Brittany’. £146,518 awarded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). Grant no. L219252007.

2000-2002: 'La gouvernance locale du changement dans les systèmes éducatifs français et anglais’. €5,640 GRALE-GIS grant on the programme ‘Inter-Territorialité et Performance Institutionnelle’.  With Michèle Breuillard, University of  Lille 2.

1999-2000: ‘The Governance of Educational Change in England and France’. £5,000 awarded by the Nuffield Foundation. Grant number:  SGS/LB/0278.

1995-1996: £14,098 Research Grant awarded by the Leverhulme Foundation for the project ‘Local Policy Networks in Britain and France’.Grant no:Rf+G/10711

1994-1996: £81,140 awarded by the ESRC for my project with Dr Peter John (principal invesitigator) on ‘Local Policy Networks in Britain and France’.  Grant no: L311253047.

1990: £3,000 awarded by the Nuffield Foundation for ‘François Mitterrand: a Study in Political Leadership’.

Postgraduate Students

I am currently supervising or co-supervising  the following PhD students:

Mark Jordan - 'Policing Public Disorder in Britain and France'

Sarah Knigh - 'The Welsh Baccalaureat'

Nazan Yorgozlu - 'Turkish identity, the Turkish nation and the European Union'

Francesca Dickson - 'Paradiplomacy and sub-national governance: a transnational comparison'

Alexander Tuck - 'Spain's National Cycling Tour and the Politics of National Identity, 1975-2000'

Odile Bomba Nkolo - 'A tale of two donors: France and Britain in Cameroon'

Biography

Educational background

Educational Background From 1977 to 1980, I read Government and History at the London School of Economics and Political Science. I graduated with a First Class honours degree, which was awarded the Bassett Prize for Political Science (bestowed annually to the top degree in the LSE Government department).

From October 1981 - September 1985 I undertook research for my Doctor of Philosophy degree at Balliol College, Oxford University. My thesis (under the supervision of David Goldey, Lincoln College, Oxford) was entitled Factionalism in the French Socialist Party, 1971-81. I passed the viva in November 1985. I was recipient of a British Academy post-graduate award from 1981-1984.

Career development


  • From October 1985-September 1986, I was Lecturer in Politics at Merton College, Oxford.
  • From October 1986 - September 1987, I was Maître de conférénces associé at the University of Caen, France.
  • From October 1987 - September 1989, I was Lecturer in French Politics at the University of Aston.
  • From October 1989 - September 1994, I was Lecturer in the Politics department at the University of Keele.
  • From October 1994-April 1995, I was Senior Lecturer in the Politics department at the University of Keele
  • From May 1995- July 1999, I was Lecturer, then Reader in European Politics, University of Bradford.
  • From August 1999- July 2004, I was Professorial Research Fellow at Cardiff University.

Current positions

Since August 2004, I have been Professor of European Politics at Cardiff University
I have been invited as Visiting Fellow to some of the leading institutions in Europe, including the European Centre at Sciences Po, Paris (2010), the Sorbonne (2007-9), the European University Institute (2004). In 2007, I held the prestigious Vincent Wright chair at Sciences Po, Paris

External examining, professional responsibilities and honours

External examining

  • 2011-2014 External Examiner, French and European Studies, Bristol University
  • 2009-2012. External Examiner, Msc (econ) in Public Administration, London School of Economics and Political Science.
  • 2007-2010. External Examiner, French and European Studies, University of Reading.
  • 2007-2010. External Examiner, Politics, University of Aberystwyth.
  • 2001-2005. External Examiner, Politics and European Studies, Aston University.
  • 1999-2003. External Examiner, European Studies, Keele University.
  • 1997- 2000. External Examiner, Politics Department, Leeds University.
  • I have been External Examiner for 16 Phds (Aberystwyth, Institute of Political Studies, Paris, Sheffield, LSE, Rennes, Ulster, Lille, Warwick [twice], Bristol, Southampton Institute, Newcastle, Australia, Reims [twice]), Swansea and internal examiner for two (at Bradford and at Cardiff). I have chaired 6 PhD juries at Cardiff. I have sat in four juries d’habilitation in France, three in Reims, one in Lyons.

Membership of Research Councils and advisory boards

  • 2010-2014 Vice-President of the (ESRC) Economic and Social Research Council’s Panel B
  • 2007-2008. Member of the French CNRS Political Science Committee (section 40)
  • 2007-2011. Member of the executive committee of the GRALE (Groupement de recherche sur les administrations locales en Europe).
  • 2001-2004. Member of the (ESRC) Economic and Social Research Council’s Politics, Economics and Geography College.

Miscellaneous external functions

  • June 2006. Member of the International Evaluation Committee, Rennes (1) University, France.bull;
  • June 2001. External Teaching Quality assessor, Aston University.
  • December 2004. External Teaching Quality assessor, Aston University.
  • April 2000. Appointment committee for the Readership in European Politics and Research Methods, LSE

Membership of professional societies

  • Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts (FRSA)
  • Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (FRHS)
  • Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (AcSS)
  • Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales (FLSW)
  • Member of the Franco-British Council, 2010-
  • Member of Political Studies Association, Association française de Science Politique, American Political Science Association