Patrick Le Galès

European cities : social conflicts and governance

This book is one in a series of sociological texts designed to compare European societies in relation to specific topics. The focus of this volume is the cities of Western Europe. The author sets out to explore the transformation of the nation state in response to globalization and European integration and its impact on cities, local societies and governments. A fundamental premise is that the differentiation of contemporary social systems has diminished the capacity of the nation state to organize groups and institutions. It is contended that under such fluid conditions Europe, the cities and regions represent possible alternative scales of social organization. With more than a passing reference to the medieval city-states the author identifies the cities of contemporary Europe as the most likely territories to replace the diminished organizational role of the State. Rejecting forecasts of decline for European cities the book sets out to demonstrate that cities are adapting to new conditions and in turn are contributing to the construction of what is described as “new forms of territorialization and institutionalization, and of compromise between social integration, culture, and economic development combined with the requirement to improve the environment” (p. 6). This may well be the case but does it have to be presented in such an abstruse manner? The overly complex style of expression, used particularly in the conceptual introduction and in the conclusion, does not commend the book to a general readership. A clearer statement of the book’s aims is to examine the role of European cities in producing the kinds of society that will emerge from the demise of ‘national’ society. The author structures his discussion of this issue around three key concepts of collective action, local society, and governance. Much of the conceptual argument around these themes reflects debates undertaken in other disciplines. The question of whether the city can be regarded as a ‘collective actor’ echoes the structure-agency debate in geography. Consideration of what constitutes a local society will also be familiar to those aware of the globalization–localization debate. Some of the author’s contentions are difficult to accept. It is stated that “it is hard to see, for example, how the concept of local society could have any meaning for Paris or London. In medium sized European cities, on the other hand, the concept is often meaningful, provided that we disaggregate this collective actor and analyse the interplay of social groups and organizations in such cities” (p. 12). Not only does this reify scale per se but it fails to recognize the social significance of local communities in world cities, including London. While the conceptual introduction to the book is dense, and at times turgid, the reader’s perseverance is rewarded later with a more readable discussion of historic links between cities and nation states in Europe. This is followed by the two main sections of the book in which the author develops his themes of the declining importance of the nation state and potential significance of the city within a reconstructed Europe. These discussions are wide-ranging and generally informative. The conclusions presented, however, are not novel—highlighting,European cities are on the rise, and are taking advantage of the opportunities of the European integration and globalization processes. But they also face economic changes, social inequalities, poverty and a new set of constraints. Taking examples through the European Union, European Cities explores the impact of the transformation of the nation states on cities and the change of local societies and local governments. It argues that new modes of urban governance are emerging, and that cities are becoming collective actors within European governance. European Cities shows why and how the bulk of European cities still appear to be original forms of compromise, aggregation, representation of diverse interests, and culture. Different modes of governance are gradually being structured in most middle size European cities despite processes of social exclusion segregation accompanied by the increased mobility of some citizens. Are Europeans going to invent a new form of institutionalized and territorialized capitalism, of which medium-sized European cities will be one of the pillars and one of the actors ? Failing that, the effects of changing scales could be expressed as profound transformations of the European urban model.

Regulations and Governance in European Cities

In Europe today, the state is being challenged, and this is leading to renewed questioning of the linkages between social regulation and political regulation. Territories, or sub-national levels (particularly towns and cities), can constitute one level on which different types of regulation are enmeshed and structured, and where a mode of governance is structured. This paper reviews the uses of the concept of governance by those institutionalist or regulationist economists who address the issue of territory, and then proposes an analytical framework - a sociological conception of governance. Copyright Joint Editors and Blackwell Publishers Ltd 1998.

Exploring Governance in a Multi-Level Polity: A Policy Instruments Approach

The study of public policy instruments in national settings has contributed significantly to our understanding of policy, political systems, and relations between state and citizen. Its promise for the EU, where instrument-centred research has hitherto been limited in coverage and method, remains by contrast largely unfulfilled. This article discusses the political sociology approach to instruments, developed by Lascoumes and Le Galès as an alternative to the traditional functionalist perspective, and highlights its value in opening new perspectives on EU policy-making and its consequences. It presents an overview of the findings of an original set of case studies, which demonstrate the usefulness of the approach in providing new insights on classic questions of EU decision-making, uncovering hidden dimensions of EU policy development, and revealing the limits of the organisational capacity of the EU as a system, as well as challenging established narratives.

Cities in Contemporary Europe

Introduction Arnaldo Bagnasco and Patrick Le Gales 1. European cities in the world economy Pierre Veltz 2. Spatial images of European urbanisation Giuseppe Dematteis 3. Segregation, class and politics in large cities Edmond Preteceille 4. Social structure in medium-sized cities compared Marco Oberti 5. Different cities in different welfare states Juhani Lehto 6. Social movements in European cities: transitions from the 1970s to the 1990s Margit Mayer 7. The construction of urban services models Dominique Lorrain 8. Private sector interests and urban governance Patrick Le Gales.

Cities and states in Europe

The article assesses the rise in importance of cities in Europe, which are relying on their demographic and economic dynamism, on the one hand, and their political strategies on the other. In most European countries, urban elites are trying to implement medium‐term development strategies and to fight against fragmentation. Globalisation represents both a constraint and an opportunity for cities; it does not determine their strategies or policies. Though often in the background, the state remains an important factor in the evolution of cities in Europe, but not a dominant one. This emergence of the city as a player goes hand in hand with processes of identity redefinition and collective strategies.

France: the intermunicipal revolution

A broad-ranging assessment of continuities and change in local governance in the western industrialized world providing in-depth assessments by leading experts of a wide range of countries exemplifying between them the whole spectrum of types and models of local government systems and networks. A central focus is on the impact of public management reforms, new forms of community governance and changes in central-local relations. (From the editor)

Cities as National Champions

As governments, committed to neo-liberalism but still committed to pursuing national economic success, seek for policy approaches that evade international competition law, they may turn to favouring national champion cities, usually but not always capital cities. This usually also favours particular industries and firms, but only indirectly. This is not the same as policies for favouring backward or declining regions, as the champions selected are already strong and well performing. The aim of policy is to make them even stronger, with resulting tension with pre-existing redistributive territorial policies. Examples are taken from a number of European cases, but with special emphasis on London and Paris.

Neoliberalism and Urban Change: Stretching a Good Idea Too Far?

Abstract Does neoliberalism matter for cities, urbanization processes, urban governance and policies? How and to what extent? What does this even mean? These questions are important as neoliberalism is a contentious and powerful political project and paradigm. This paper argues that: (1) it may be fruitful to be clearer about the meaning of neoliberalism rather than adopting an encompassing constructivist framework; and (2) that neoliberalism may not explain that much about the current transformation of urbanization processes and cities. Instead, these mechanisms need to be better specified and their limits defined: urban worlds and the urbanization processes of cities do not change all the time, in all ways. Rather than embracing the multiple, ever-changing forms of neoliberalism and the contructivist framework underpinning this position, this paper identifies a set of central points to define neoliberalism by contrast to liberalism, as one possible working definition of neoliberalism. Secondly, it discusses the neoliberalization of cities and urban policies, recognizing that cities change for many reasons, of which neoliberalism is just one.AbstractDoes neoliberalism matter for cities, urbanization processes, urban governance and policies? How and to what extent? What does this even mean? These questions are important as neoliberalism is a contentious and powerful political project and paradigm. This paper argues that: (1) it may be fruitful to be clearer about the meaning of neoliberalism rather than adopting an encompassing constructivist framework; and (2) that neoliberalism may not explain that much about the current transformation of urbanization processes and cities. Instead, these mechanisms need to be better specified and their limits defined: urban worlds and the urbanization processes of cities do not change all the time, in all ways. Rather than embracing the multiple, ever-changing forms of neoliberalism and the contructivist framework underpinning this position, this paper identifies a set of central points to define neoliberalism by contrast to liberalism, as one possible working definition of neoliberalism. Secondly, it discus...

Developments in French politics 5

The presidential election of 2007, which propelled Nicolas Sarkozy into the Elysee Palace, was arguably the most important for a generation. Sarkozys victory was seen as opening a new political era, as he replaced Jacques Chirac at the forefront of French politics. Developments in French Politics 4 takes stock of the Chirac years, gives an account of the changed political scene, and makes accessible the latest analysis of contemporary French politics. Written by a team of leading authorities from France, the USA, the UK and beyond, this volume provides a systematic assessment of the French political system, from the central institutions and organizations through to key policies and issues. It addresses the main challenges in contemporary politics and the administrations response. Globalization, gender, immigration and culture all come under the microscope, as do traditional concerns such as economic, welfare and foreign policy. Arguing that reform went further under Chirac than is commonly acknowledged, the chapters together provide state of the art coverage of French politics and an assessment of the degree of continuity and change – institutionally, structurally and behaviourally – between Chirac and Sarkozy.

Globalised minds, roots in the city : urban upper-middle classes in Europe

Globalised Minds, Roots in the City utilises empirical evidence from four European cities to explore the role of urban upper middle classes in the transformations experienced by contemporary European societies. Presents new empirical evidence collected through an original comparative research about professionals and managers in four European cities in three countries Features an innovative combination of approaches, methods, and techniques in its analyses of European post-national societies; Reveals how segments of Europe’s urban population are adopting “exit” or “partial exit” strategies in respect to the nation state; Utilises approaches from classic urban sociology, globalization and mobility studies, and spatial class analysis; Includes in depth interviews, social networking techniques, and classic questions of political representation and values. (Resume editeur)