Urban Fragmentation and Revitalization Policies in France: A New Urban Governance in the Making

Abstract

This chapter focuses on urban fragmentation and urban regeneration policies by presenting some French examples. It narrows the focus to social and spatial fragmentation in French cities and discusses various aspects of urban governance. In France, urban studies reveal a deep rift between the economic, social and cultural developments affecting urban territories and the political and administrative organization of the city. Besides the social and ecological costs of such behaviour, this laisser-faire approach destroys the idea of the city as a place of 'common good' built on a collective and viable project. The literature on urban revitalization policies like the Politique de la Ville in France highlights some structural aspects of such approaches. Researchers have discovered what kind of implementation procedures are operating.