Paris and the Provinces: The Politics of Local Government Reform in France

The book "Paris and the Provinces" explores why reforms of central-local relations in France have been ineffectual, finding the cause in party politics and personal rivalries. It compares similar events in Italy and analyzes the factors that differentiate the strength of 'ethnically based challenges to central authority authority in Britain, Spain, Belgium, Yugoslavia, and Canada from the relative weakness of such challenges in France, Italy, and Germany. It contributes significantly to understanding the connections between party politics and policy formation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 268 pages
Publication date: 14 February 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

First published in 1980, Paris and the Provinces delves into the ineffectiveness of central-local relations reforms in France. Professor Gourevitch identifies the root cause in party politics and personal rivalries. The intense struggle for dominance among various parties (Gaullists, Communists, Socialists, Christian Democrats, Independents, and others) and individuals (De Gaulle, Giscard, Chirac, Mitterand, Marchais, and others) has permeated virtually every aspect of institutional reform. This includes the creation of regional administrations, the delineation of their powers, and the delegation of specific responsibilities to cities and towns.

The conflict over the mechanisms that connect local life to the national government is not exclusive to France. This book closely examines comparable events in Italy and analyzes the factors that distinguish the strength of 'ethnically based challenges to central authority in Britain, Spain, Belgium, Yugoslavia, and Canada from the relative weakness of such challenges in France, Italy, and Germany. By evaluating the territorial distribution between the capital and the countryside as both an influence on and an object of policy, Paris and the Provinces significantly contributes to understanding the connections between party politics and policy formation. This book will be of interest to students of political science, government, and public policy.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032357713