Date
2005
Dewey
Administration
Sujet
coordination; décentralisation; intégration politique; relations entre l'Etat et les autorités subnationales; Intergovernemental relations; National state; Local authorities; Coordination; Policy making; Political integration; Cumul des mandats
JEL code
H77; H83
Journal issue
Public Administration
Volume
83
Number
3
Publication date
08-2005
Article pages
685-708
Publisher
Blackwell Publishing
Author
Thoenig, Jean-Claude
Type
Article accepté pour publication ou publié
Abstract (FR)
Cet article donne un modèle interprétatif synthétique de l'état et de l'évolution du gouvernement des affaires territoriales en France, en prenant appui sur une large gamme d'enquêtes de terrain. Il énonce dix propriétés fondamentales de ce modèle. Il explique comment un milieu trans partisan de politiciens cummulant des mandats exerce un contrôle étroit sur le maintien de ce modèle, malgré les forces centrifuges qui le traversent.
Abstract (EN)
The paper is based on intensive longitudinal field research. It suggests an interpretative model of territorial governement in France. Relations between national and local authorities as well as policy-making processes suggest that the centralized state has face a major decline of its hegemony and that decentralization reforms have induced a polycentric dynamic. Seven basic characteristics and three key properties of the model are discussed. The emerging model is neither a new localism nor a new centralism pattern. It is the product of incremental and ongoing trade-offs between centrifugal and centripetal forces. This complexity reflects a situation that is under the rather conservative, as well tight, control of national politicians who hold multiple local elected mandates
