New Directions in Decentralisation and Urban Policy in France: The Search for a Postdecentralisation State

Abstract

Decentralisation is back on the political agenda in France, associated with the Act prepared by the Ministre de l'Intérieur, Pierre Joxe. It is argued that the reform is, above all, about reorganising the State territorial services in order to match local dynamism. An attempt is made to define a new balance between local authorities and the State in order to deal with some current problems such as the university crisis and the consequences of the urban crisis.