"Intellectuals have traditionally played an influential role in French political life. Even though they have seldom sought a direct part in formulating policy, they have conditioned the atmosphere in which politics are conducted and have frequently served as important shapers of the political and ideological trends that generate French policy. Recognizing that their influence on policymaking is difficult to measure, this paper focuses on the changing attitudes of French intellectuals and gauges the probable impact on the political environment in which policy is made."--Page iii.