The implementation of participatory democracy in French communes

doi:doi:10.1057/fp.2009.5

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to analyze how participatory democracy has been implemented in French communes. The question of neighbourhood democracy is a norm of political speech as local representatives need to legitimize their role in the public space by getting closer to their electors. Does the implementation of participatory tools depend on the ideology and the socialization of the mayors or on the structure of the commune (size, territorial configuration)? The paper mainly uses a quantitative investigation made on communes above 5000 inhabitants as well as interviews conducted in specific communes known for their participatory culture.

Keywords:

participatory democracy, socialization, territorial configuration, size of the commune, local consultations

Original Article