This course serves as an introduction to contemporary French culture. We will examine various aspects of this culture through social, political, geographical and linguistic perspectives. Topics include: national identity in France, the structure of French administration and educational system, the role of different media in French society, intellectuals in public debates and the effects of modernization on economic and social structures. We will also study the source and meaning of national symbols, monuments, myths and ideologies. Special part will be dedicated to the role of France in the European Union and in the world.