He received a degree from the Université de Paris (1946) in geography, specialising in the countries of West Africa and African studies.

Back in France, Suret-Canale found a teaching post in Laval, Mayenne and pursued his political writing while keeping active in the Communist party.

While in France Suret-Canale continued his active work in the French Communist Party, but was critical of the Stalinist leadership under Maurice Thorez.

in 1960, where he is most known for developing Marxist theories on the Asiatic mode of production that were later adopteded by theoreticians of national liberation movements in the Third World.

[5] Shortly before retiring to Périgord (where he had been in the resistance during the war) Suret-Canale submitted his Doctoral dissertation, a practice common in French academia.