Towards a regional citizenship?: the French case

CANS meetingCANS meeting

Brussels 12-13 NovemberBrussels 12-13 NovemberRomain Pasquier CNRS/Sciences-Po RennesRomain Pasquier CNRS/Sciences-Po Rennes

Introduction

1. Territorial politics in France: key elements1. Territorial politics in France: key elements 2. Research design: towards a new citizenship2. Research design: towards a new citizenship Independent variablesIndependent variables

IdentityIdentity Regional institutionsRegional institutions WealthWealth

Dependent variablesDependent variables ParticipationParticipation SolidaritySolidarity

3. Preliminary lessons for the French case3. Preliminary lessons for the French case

Territorial politics in France

Two main representations of the region have emerged and Two main representations of the region have emerged and competed since the WWII in France: competed since the WWII in France: the region defined as an economic and planning space the region defined as an economic and planning space

(functional regionalisation)(functional regionalisation) and the region defined as a political representation level and the region defined as a political representation level

(political regionalisation)(political regionalisation) The decentralization reform led by Gaston Deferre in The decentralization reform led by Gaston Deferre in

1982-83 appeared as a compromise between these two 1982-83 appeared as a compromise between these two ideasideas

Territorial politics in France

The 22 metropolitan Regions obtained The 22 metropolitan Regions obtained competences competences

No hierarchy between the levels in the No hierarchy between the levels in the systemsystem

New trends of decentralisation in the FPSNew trends of decentralisation in the FPS 2003-04: “Acte II de la décentralisation”2003-04: “Acte II de la décentralisation” 2009-10: negociations for a new reform2009-10: negociations for a new reform

Research design

After 30 years of decentralisation, can we observe a After 30 years of decentralisation, can we observe a reshaping of identity, participation and solidarity reshaping of identity, participation and solidarity scales?scales? Weakening of nation-stateWeakening of nation-state Empowerment of regions as new spaces of Empowerment of regions as new spaces of

citizenshipcitizenship Three empirical casesThree empirical cases

Alsace (done in April)Alsace (done in April)Brittany (done in March)Brittany (done in March)Ile de France (done in June)Ile de France (done in June)

Research design Towards a new citizenshipTowards a new citizenship Independent variablesIndependent variables

Identity (Q1, Q2, Q5)Identity (Q1, Q2, Q5) Regional institutions (Q 25, Q 13, Q on policy variation)Regional institutions (Q 25, Q 13, Q on policy variation) Wealth (Q 16)Wealth (Q 16)

Dependent variablesDependent variables Participation (Q7)Participation (Q7) Solidarity (Q18)Solidarity (Q18)

We are late concerning the statistical analysisWe are late concerning the statistical analysis Descriptive and qualitative analysis of the different variablesDescriptive and qualitative analysis of the different variables

Independent variables

Identity: attachment to region

%very attached 

Commune Département Region State

Alsace 48 46 60 60

Brittany 36 41 65 49

Ile de France 36 24 26 53 

Identity: regional pride

%very proud Region State

Alsace 40.5 31.6

Brittany 51.8 32

Ile de France 19.5 32.5

Identity: Moreno scale

  Just Region R>S Equal S>R Just State

Alsace 1.1 16.9 41.9 19.7 15.2

Brittany 1.5 22.5 50 15.4 9.3

Ile de France 0.6 7 30.4 42.1 11.7

Identity and French territorial politics Strenght of regional identities in France Strenght of regional identities in France Differenciation of regional spacesDifferenciation of regional spaces

Alsace and Brittany are spaces of cultural et Alsace and Brittany are spaces of cultural et political mobilizations since the 19th et XXth political mobilizations since the 19th et XXth centuriescenturies

Ile de France has emerged from the regional Ile de France has emerged from the regional planning of the 1960splanning of the 1960s

In terme of identity, decentralisation increases In terme of identity, decentralisation increases this differenciationthis differenciation

Identity and French territorial politics However, in France these regional identities However, in France these regional identities

are not exclusive contrary to other casesare not exclusive contrary to other cases 1.5% of the Band 1% of the A feel just B 1.5% of the Band 1% of the A feel just B

or Aor A This notably explains why the regionalist This notably explains why the regionalist

parties have many difficulties to obtain a parties have many difficulties to obtain a significant electoral influence in these two significant electoral influence in these two last regionslast regions

Regional institutions  No regional

governmentFewer powers

Statu quo More powers

Independence

Alsace 

1.4 1.7 41.7 41 5.8

Brittany 

1.4 1.6 31.1 51.9 4.6

Ile de France 

3.3 6.7 34.5 38.2. 0.1

Regional institutions: environnement

Which level of govt should be responsible for the environment? 

Region State EU

Alsace 31.1 17.3 29.4

Brittany 43 14.6 43.4

Ile de France 28.9 20.8 40

Regional institutions: fighting unemployment

Which level of govt should be responsible for fighting unemployment? 

Region State EU

Alsace 17.6 58.7 17

Brittany 16 65.1 11.4

Ile de France 13.1 61.4 17.2

Regional institutions: economic development

Which level of govt should be responsible for economic development and innovation? 

Region State EU

Alsace 29.8 39.8 20.8

Brittany 40.5 33.9 17.3

Ile de France 21.8 41 25.9

Regional institutions: educationWhich level of govt should be responsible for education?

 

Region State EU

Alsace 23.9 60.6 9.3

Brittany 23.5 66 5.9

Ile de France 18.1 67.1 5.7

Regional institutions: health careWhich level of govt should be responsible for public health? 

Region State EU

Alsace 16 65.6 13.1

Brittany 12.9 75.3 7.5

Ile de France 11.4 71.3 9.9

Regional institutions and FTP

A majority of people is in favour of more A majority of people is in favour of more decentralisationdecentralisation

But if we consider the different policies , But if we consider the different policies , they plebiscite the statu quo in education or they plebiscite the statu quo in education or health care in term of power distributionhealth care in term of power distribution

Wealth

Q16 if you compare the regional economic situation to the national one do you think?

Better situation Same Worst

Alsace 55.2 35.9 4.2

Brittany 25.6 58.1 6.3

Ile de France 43.9 33 8.9

Wealth and FPT

People perceive clear economic disparities People perceive clear economic disparities between French regionsbetween French regions

In particular in Alsace and Ile de France, In particular in Alsace and Ile de France, where people feel they are in a better where people feel they are in a better economic situation than in the rest of economic situation than in the rest of FranceFrance

Dependent variables

Participation: elections% very important

Elections municipales

Elections cantonales

Electionsrégionales

Electionslégislatives

Elections présidentielles

Alsace 56.9 40.5 42.9 43.4 74.8

Brittany 59.3 40.1 43.6 47.9 67

Ile de France 62 40.4 50.9 52.6 73.4

Participation and French territorial Politics If we consider political participation first as If we consider political participation first as

an electoral act, no major change in FPTan electoral act, no major change in FPT Local (communal) and presidential Local (communal) and presidential

elections are the key electoral moments elections are the key electoral moments of participationof participation

Our three cases confirm this analysisOur three cases confirm this analysis

Solidarity Community

How close to people in region/state as a whole? 

% very Commune % very Region % very State

Alsace 40.4 36.8 29.4

Brittany 39.9 32.8 24.9

Ile de France 48.2 37.9 34.3

Fiscal Solidarity

Central govt to intervene to even out regional economic disparities? 

%agree %disagree

Alsace 76.8 16.2

Brittany 86.6 7.9

Ile de France 79.8 11.3

Fiscal solidarityRich regions transfer to poor to ensure uniformity 

% agree % disagree

Alsace 70.1 23.3

Brittany 84.2 8.2

Ile de France 77.2 11.4

Solidarity and French territorial politics We do not perceive a regionalisation of solidarityWe do not perceive a regionalisation of solidarity In France, the first scale of solidarity is the In France, the first scale of solidarity is the

commune and not the regioncommune and not the region People trust in the French state to ensure People trust in the French state to ensure

interregional solidarity and reduce economic interregional solidarity and reduce economic disparitiesdisparities

The French state is perceived as the main provider The French state is perceived as the main provider of solidarityof solidarity

Preliminary lessons for the French case

We can confirm the strenght of regional identitiesWe can confirm the strenght of regional identities Decentralisation has increased identitary Decentralisation has increased identitary

differenciation between regionsdifferenciation between regions In term of intensity and strenght, regional In term of intensity and strenght, regional

identities in Alsace or Brittany are similar to identities in Alsace or Brittany are similar to other famous European regionsother famous European regions

However, these identities are essentially dual However, these identities are essentially dual and not exclusive and not exclusive

Preliminary lessons for the French case

The decentralisation paradoxThe decentralisation paradox A majority of people is in favour of more A majority of people is in favour of more

decentralisationdecentralisation But excepted in the environnement field , But excepted in the environnement field ,

they plebiscite the statu quo in education or they plebiscite the statu quo in education or health care in term of power distributionhealth care in term of power distribution

Preliminary lessons for the French case

We also observe stability on the We also observe stability on the participation dimensionparticipation dimension In term of electoral participation, the In term of electoral participation, the

regional elections are not the key scale regional elections are not the key scale for peoplefor people

The local and national levels remain the The local and national levels remain the structuring scalesstructuring scales

Preliminary lessons for the French case

Finally, we observe a clear inertia Finally, we observe a clear inertia concerning solidarity and its mechanisms in concerning solidarity and its mechanisms in FranceFrance

The three cases converge on this dimensionThe three cases converge on this dimension State is perceived as the relevant level to State is perceived as the relevant level to

ensure solidarity between regions and ensure solidarity between regions and reduce the economic disparitiesreduce the economic disparities

Preliminary lessons for the French case

Despite strong regional feelings of belonging, no Despite strong regional feelings of belonging, no regionalisation of citizenship in Franceregionalisation of citizenship in France

We observe elements of political territorialisation We observe elements of political territorialisation (identity and power distribution) but not a (identity and power distribution) but not a regionalisation of the citizenship which would regionalisation of the citizenship which would suppose the positive convergence of identitary, suppose the positive convergence of identitary, political and social mechanismspolitical and social mechanisms