The mayor, the ancestors and the chapel: clientelism, emotion and heritagisation in southern France

Abstract

In the political organisation of the villages of southern France, the mayor is one of the most important elements of the clientelist system. He builds an affective link with local people, through his knowledge of collective history and local identity. In this context, heritage is used by politicians as a legitimate tool of local power, especially during the official speeches of the patron saint festivals. In what way does the heritage discourse contribute to the empowerment of the mayor? How does the political speech link the affective dimension of the mayor–people relationship with the heritage discourse? Based on fieldwork in a border village between France and Italy, I analyse the relations connecting individual political power, public heritage policies and affective patterns of clientelism.