1. Towards a regional citizenship?: the French case CANS meeting Brussels 12-13 November Romain Pasquier CNRS/Sciences-Po Rennes

2. Introduction 1. Territorial politics in France: key elements 1. Territorial politics in France: key elements 2. Research design: towards a new citizenship 2. Research design: towards a new citizenship Independent variables Independent variables  Identity  Regional institutions  Wealth Dependent variables Dependent variables  Participation  Solidarity 3. Preliminary lessons for the French case 3. Preliminary lessons for the French case

3. Territorial politics in France Two main representations of the region have emerged and competed since the WWII in France: Two main representations of the region have emerged and competed since the WWII in France:  the region defined as an economic and planning space (functional regionalisation)  and the region defined as a political representation level (political regionalisation) The decentralization reform led by Gaston Deferre in 1982-83 appeared as a compromise between these two ideas The decentralization reform led by Gaston Deferre in 1982-83 appeared as a compromise between these two ideas

4. Territorial politics in France The 22 metropolitan Regions obtained competences The 22 metropolitan Regions obtained competences No hierarchy between the levels in the system No hierarchy between the levels in the system New trends of decentralisation in the FPS New trends of decentralisation in the FPS  2003-04: “Acte II de la décentralisation”  2009-10: negociations for a new reform

5. Research design After 30 years of decentralisation, can we observe a reshaping of identity, participation and solidarity scales? After 30 years of decentralisation, can we observe a reshaping of identity, participation and solidarity scales?  Weakening of nation-state  Empowerment of regions as new spaces of citizenship Three empirical cases Three empirical cases  Alsace (done in April)  Brittany (done in March)  Ile de France (done in June)

6. Research design Towards a new citizenship Towards a new citizenship Independent variables Independent variables  Identity (Q1, Q2, Q5)  Regional institutions (Q 25, Q 13, Q on policy variation)  Wealth (Q 16) Dependent variables Dependent variables  Participation (Q7)  Solidarity (Q18) We are late concerning the statistical analysis We are late concerning the statistical analysis  Descriptive and qualitative analysis of the different variables

7. Independent variables

8. Identity: attachment to region %very attached CommuneDépartementRegionState Alsace484660 Brittany36416549 Ile de France36242653

9. Identity: regional pride %very proudRegionState Alsace40.531.6 Brittany51.832 Ile de France19.532.5

10. Identity: Moreno scale Just RegionR>SEqualS>RJust State Alsace1.116.941.919.715.2 Brittany1.522.55015.49.3 Ile de France 0.6730.442.111.7

11. Identity and French territorial politics Strenght of regional identities in France Strenght of regional identities in France Differenciation of regional spaces Differenciation of regional spaces  Alsace and Brittany are spaces of cultural et political mobilizations since the 19th et XXth centuries  Ile de France has emerged from the regional planning of the 1960s  In terme of identity, decentralisation increases this differenciation

12. Identity and French territorial politics However, in France these regional identities are not exclusive contrary to other cases However, in France these regional identities are not exclusive contrary to other cases  1.5% of the Band 1% of the A feel just B or A This notably explains why the regionalist parties have many difficulties to obtain a significant electoral influence in these two last regions This notably explains why the regionalist parties have many difficulties to obtain a significant electoral influence in these two last regions

13. Regional institutions No regional government Fewer powers Statu quoMore powers Independenc e Alsace 1.41.741.7415.8 Brittany 1.41.631.151.94.6 Ile de France 3.36.734.538.2.0.1

14. Regional institutions: environnement Which level of govt should be responsible for the environment? RegionStateEU Alsace31.117.329.4 Brittany4314.643.4 Ile de France28.920.840

15. Regional institutions: fighting unemployment Which level of govt should be responsible for fighting unemployment ? RegionStateEU Alsace17.658.717 Brittany1665.111.4 Ile de France13.161.417.2

16. Regional institutions: economic development Which level of govt should be responsible for economic development and innovation? RegionStateEU Alsace29.839.820.8 Brittany40.533.917.3 Ile de France21.84125.9

17. Regional institutions: education Which level of govt should be responsible for education ? RegionStateEU Alsace23.960.69.3 Brittany23.5665.9 Ile de France18.167.15.7

18. Regional institutions: health care Which level of govt should be responsible for public health? RegionStateEU Alsace1665.613.1 Brittany12.975.37.5 Ile de France11.471.39.9

19. Regional institutions and FTP A majority of people is in favour of more decentralisation A majority of people is in favour of more decentralisation But if we consider the different policies, they plebiscite the statu quo in education or health care in term of power distribution But if we consider the different policies, they plebiscite the statu quo in education or health care in term of power distribution

20. Wealth Q16 if you compare the regional economic situation to the national one do you think? Better situationSameWorst Alsace55.235.94.2 Brittany25.658.16.3 Ile de France43.9338.9

21. Wealth and FPT People perceive clear economic disparities between French regions People perceive clear economic disparities between French regions In particular in Alsace and Ile de France, where people feel they are in a better economic situation than in the rest of France In particular in Alsace and Ile de France, where people feel they are in a better economic situation than in the rest of France

22. Dependent variables

23. Participation: elections % very important Elections municipales Elections cantonales Elections régionales Elections législatives Elections présidentiell es Alsace56.940.542.943.474.8 Brittany59.340.143.647.967 Ile de France 6240.450.952.673.4

24. Participation and French territorial Politics If we consider political participation first as an electoral act, no major change in FPT If we consider political participation first as an electoral act, no major change in FPT  Local (communal) and presidential elections are the key electoral moments of participation  Our three cases confirm this analysis

25. Solidarity Community How close to people in region/state as a whole? % very Commune% very Region% very State Alsace40.436.829.4 Brittany39.932.824.9 Ile de France48.237.934.3

26. Fiscal Solidarity Central govt to intervene to even out regional economic disparities? %agree%disagree Alsace76.816.2 Brittany86.67.9 Ile de France79.811.3

27. Fiscal solidarity Rich regions transfer to poor to ensure uniformity % agree% disagree Alsace70.123.3 Brittany84.28.2 Ile de France77.211.4

28. Solidarity and French territorial politics We do not perceive a regionalisation of solidarity We do not perceive a regionalisation of solidarity In France, the first scale of solidarity is the commune and not the region In France, the first scale of solidarity is the commune and not the region People trust in the French state to ensure interregional solidarity and reduce economic disparities People trust in the French state to ensure interregional solidarity and reduce economic disparities The French state is perceived as the main provider of solidarity The French state is perceived as the main provider of solidarity

29. Preliminary lessons for the French case We can confirm the strenght of regional identities We can confirm the strenght of regional identities  Decentralisation has increased identitary differenciation between regions  In term of intensity and strenght, regional identities in Alsace or Brittany are similar to other famous European regions  However, these identities are essentially dual and not exclusive

30. Preliminary lessons for the French case The decentralisation paradox The decentralisation paradox A majority of people is in favour of more decentralisation A majority of people is in favour of more decentralisation But excepted in the environnement field, they plebiscite the statu quo in education or health care in term of power distribution But excepted in the environnement field, they plebiscite the statu quo in education or health care in term of power distribution

31. Preliminary lessons for the French case We also observe stability on the participation dimension We also observe stability on the participation dimension  In term of electoral participation, the regional elections are not the key scale for people  The local and national levels remain the structuring scales

32. Preliminary lessons for the French case Finally, we observe a clear inertia concerning solidarity and its mechanisms in France Finally, we observe a clear inertia concerning solidarity and its mechanisms in France The three cases converge on this dimension The three cases converge on this dimension State is perceived as the relevant level to ensure solidarity between regions and reduce the economic disparities State is perceived as the relevant level to ensure solidarity between regions and reduce the economic disparities

33. Preliminary lessons for the French case Despite strong regional feelings of belonging, no regionalisation of citizenship in France Despite strong regional feelings of belonging, no regionalisation of citizenship in France We observe elements of political territorialisation (identity and power distribution) but not a regionalisation of the citizenship which would suppose the positive convergence of identitary, political and social mechanisms We observe elements of political territorialisation (identity and power distribution) but not a regionalisation of the citizenship which would suppose the positive convergence of identitary, political and social mechanisms