Local State-Society Relations in France

Abstract

The chapter describes four types of formalized local state-society networks in France: local economic development agencies; local agencies for the social and professional integration of youngster; local agencies for the coordination of employment policies and local advisory committees of non-EU residents. Their institutionalization unfolded since the 1980s, and it resulted from central state incentives as well as local initiatives. They display highly varied features in terms of autonomy, coherence and relevance for sectoral policies but are characterized by a rather weak mobilization of societal actors, notably organized interests, and by a steering role of local governments. Finally, by both encouraging the institutionalization of these networks and simultaneously trying to steer at distance local affairs, the central state stands out as a Janus-like actor in local governance.