Democratizing France: The Political and Administrative History of Decentralization

Preface Part I. The Political History of Decentralization from the French Revolution to the Present: Introduction: when political interest leads to disinterested politics 1. The legislative history of recurring centralization from the French Revolution to the Third Republic 2. The triumph of decentralization during the Third Republic 3. The unsuccessful push for decentralization from the Fourth Republic through the conservative Fifth Republic 4. Legislating decentralization in the administration of local government: the reforms of the socialist Fifth Republic 5. Legislating decentralization in the politics of local government Part II. The Impact of Decentralization on Local Politics and Administration: Introduction: when informal rules become formal roles 6. When informal rules counter formal roles: local government before the socialist reforms of the Fifth Republic 7. Rhetoric versus reality in local government: local politics and administration before the socialist Fifth Republic 8. When informal rules become formal roles: the new pluralism in the institutions and processes of local government 9. Unblocking society by decree: the transformation of the politico-administrative system 10. A new rhetoric and a new reality in local government: local politics and administration in the socialist Fifth Republic and beyond Conclusion Bibliography Index.