Influences on state–society relations in France: Analysing voluntary associations and multicultural dynamism, co-option and retrenchment in Paris, Lyon and Marseille

Abstract

French governance's ad hoc pluralism has offered scope for the emergence of increasing policy dynamism, particularly at the local level. Important in this process is the relationship between the local state and voluntary associations. However, it still remains little understood what external, exogenous factors shape, challenge and facilitate this relationship between the local state and voluntary associations. This paper seeks to contribute to filling this gap with a comparative analysis of three voluntary associations across Paris, Lyon and Marseille. These were chosen for their varying experiences of exogenous influences on their relationship to the local state and the analysis demonstrates that, while offering public recognition to migrant communities has become increasingly possible at the local level, the process remains very much contested, even subject to retrenchment.