The French Fourth Republic: France's Turbulent Post-War Experiment (1946–1958)

The French Fourth Republic was the parliamentary government of France from 1946 to 1958, rebuilt after World War II on a constitution that closely resembled the pre-war Third Republic. Despite remarkable economic growth and the beginnings of European unity, chronic government instability and the inability to resolve decolonization — especially the Algerian War — brought it down, leading to the return of Charles de Gaulle and the creation of the Fifth Republic.