With globalization and the EU, local and regional government in member states have experienced dramatic changes in their operation, responsibilities and organizations. Loughlin presents an overview of the theory and practice of subnational government in France and a detailed examination of the outcomes.

JOHN LOUGHLIN is Professor of European Politics and formerly Jean Monnet Professor at Cardiff University, UK, and European Studies Visiting Fellow at St Antony's College, Oxford, UK. Previously he held positions at the Erasmus University Rotterdam and the University of Ulster. He has held Visiting Professorships and Fellowships at Merton College, Oxford, the Institutes of Political Science in Paris, Bordeaux and Aix-en-Provence, the European University Institute, Florence, the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Arts and Sciences, the Free University of Brussels and the University of Umeå, Sweden. He is currently an Expert on Regional and Local Democracy of the Council of Europe and at UN-HABITAT.

Introduction: The International Context of French Subnational Government PART ONE: GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE FRENCH CASE Centralization and Decentralization in French History The 'Trente Glorieuses' (1945-1975) and their Aftermath The Decentralization Programme: An Overview (1982-2006) PART TWO: THE INSTITUTIONS OF FRENCH SUBNATIONAL GOVERNANCE The Municipality (Commune): Between Local Democracy and Effective Governance The 'Meso' Level: The Region vs. the Département PART THREE: THE INSTITUTIONS AT WORK The Politics of French Territorial Governance Administering Territorial Governance: The State Strikes Back? Paying For It All Conclusions