The years which followed saw protracted wars culminating in independence for Algeria and most other French colonies in Africa as well as the decolonisation of Indochina.
In the 1990s Franco-German cooperation was central to European economic integration. Ties saw a period of some strain at the beginning of the new millennium as a result of differences over farm subsidies and the political future of the EU.
However, the two countries again proclaimed the bond between them in early 2003 when they celebrated the anniversary of a postwar friendship treaty. This bond was further strengthened as they joined with Russia to voice strong opposition to the US-led war with Iraq.
France initially expressed sympathy and support for the USA following the 11 September attacks. The French offered military assistance in the war on terror at an early stage but as the focus shifted to Baghdad the policy direction changed.
The country insisted at the UN that political and diplomatic measures should be used to disarm Iraq and that force be employed only as a last resort. This stand put relations with both the USA and UK under strain and also highlighted differences of opinion within international bodies, not least the UN and the EU.
Government in France is known for its high degree of centralization but in March 2003 parliament approved government-backed amendments to the constitution allowing for the devolution of quite wide-ranging powers to the country's 22 regions and 96 departments. The amendments also provide for local referenda to give people more say in local decisions.
Following low turnout in 2002 elections, the move was widely seen as a bid to re-engage in the political process French people disillusioned by the ubiquitous influence of the Paris elite.
France has produced some of the continent's most influential writers and thinkers from Descartes and Pascal in the 17th century, through Rousseau and Voltaire in the 18th, Baudelaire and Flaubert in the 19th to Sartre and Camus in the 20th. In the last two centuries it has given the art world the works of Renoir, Monet, Cezanne, Gauguin, Matisse and Braque, to name but a few.
Population: 60.1 million (UN, 2003) Capital: Paris Major language: French Major religion: Christianity Life expectancy: 75 years (men), 83 years (women) (UN) Monetary unit: 1 Euro = 100 cents Main exports: Machinery and transport equipment, agricultural products, including wine Average annual income: US $22,730 (World Bank, 2001) Internet domain: .fr International dialling code: +33
President: Jacques Chirac
Conservative Jacques Chirac, who has been president since 1995, won a second term in a landslide victory over far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen on 5 May 2002.
Mr Chirac's position was strengthened still further in legislative elections the following month when his centre right coalition, the Union for the Presidential Majority [UMP], also won by a landslide. The grouping was subsequently renamed Union for a Popular Movement but retained the same abbreviation. His allies now dominate the National Assembly and Senate and France has a centre-right government, marking an end to the "cohabitation" years when Mr Chirac had to work with the Socialists.
Voters expect him to deliver on an ambitious programme of tax cuts, public sector reform and anticrime measures. His task is not easy, especially given the budgetary constraints imposed by membership of the eurozone. There have been mounting protests over the government's privatization and pension reform plans. Rising unemployment is also an issue.
By the time he reached the Elysee in 1995, Jacques Chirac had been twice prime minister, held several other ministerial positions and had ruled Paris as mayor.
Anticorruption judges want to question him about alleged graft during his time as Paris mayor, but the courts have ruled that he remains immune from the justice system as long as he is in power.
Alain Juppe, a close adviser to President Chirac and leader of his UMP party, is appealing against conviction in January 2004 of involvement in a party funding scam while he was deputy mayor of Paris and Mr Chirac was mayor. Prime minister: Jean-Pierre Raffarin
France enjoys a free press and has more than 100 daily newspapers. Most newspapers are in private hands and not linked to political parties.
State-run Radio France runs services for the domestic audience, French overseas territories and foreign audiences.
France's international broadcasters have a significant audience abroad. Radio France Internationale is one of the world's leading international stations and its Arabic-language Radio Monte Carlo Moyen Orient service, available on mediumwave (AM) and FM in many Middle East countries, has a large audience in the region.
The international French-language channel TV5, co-financed by Belgium, Canada and Switzerland, is available globally. An external satellite TV news channel, Canal France International 24, is planned. French domestic TV channels, available free-to-air via satellite, also have many viewers in Maghreb countries.
The main domestic TV station, TF1, was privatised in 1987. The growth of satellite and cable has led to a proliferation of commercial channels. There are two competing digital satellite packages, CanalSatellite and TPS. The launch of digital terrestrial television was delayed in June 2002 by the new government, which called for more details about the planned services.
France's long-established commercial radio stations, particularly RTL and Europe 1, still command large audiences. They have been joined by a multiplicity of FM stations, often consolidated into successful commercial networks such as hit music station NRJ and oldies station Nostalgie.
The press
Le Monde - national daily Liberation - national daily Le
Figaro - national daily Ouest France - regional daily L'Express - news weekly Le
Point - news weekly
Television
France 2 - national, public France 3 - national, public
France 5 - national, public, educational TF1 - national, commercial M6 -
national, commercial La Chaine Info - rolling news TV5 - international
French-language TV, with programmes from French, Belgian, Swiss and Canadian
public broadcasters Canal Plus - national, subscription channel
Radio
Radio France - operates national and regional outlets,
including flagship speech-based station France Inter and all-news station France
Info Radio France Internationale (RFI) - international broadcaster, available
via shortwave and numerous FM relays worldwide Europe 1 - major commercial
station, news and entertainment programmes RTL - major commercial station, mix
of speech and music programmes NRJ - commercial, leading FM music network
News agency
Agence France Presse