Original scientific paper
Decentralisation in France: The »Jacobin« State Stuck between Continuity and Transformation
Sabine Kuhlmann
; German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer, Germany
Abstract
France has traditionally been regarded as having one of the most centralised public administrations in the world. The consequences of decentralisation at the local level in France (départements, communes) are analysed and contrasted with the pursued reform objectives. After a brief review of the most important characteristics of the »tamed Jacobinism«, the motives, political debates, and expectations associated with the reforms and their major elements are extrapolated upon by concentrating on the second round of decentralisation, which began in 2003 (Acte II). The impacts and effects of decentralisation are scrutinised by distinguishing between operational results and far-reaching system effects. In order to reveal the former, it is asked if the objective of the French government,
faire mieux avec moins (doing better with less), has been obtained. Exploring the latter, the changes in the system with regard to vertical power sharing, coordination practices between local and state actors, and actual decision-making in an intergovernmental setting are analysed.
Keywords
decentralisation – France; »Jacobin« state; local government; state and administrative reform; vertical power sharing; better with less
Hrčak ID:
131927
URI
Publication date:
16.6.2011.
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