Metropolitics

Private Infrastructure and Urban Government: How Vélib' Veered Off Course in Paris

Maxime Huré & translated by Oliver Waine — 2019-05-17T05:00:00Z

When the city of Paris entrusted its decade-old bike-share service, Vélib', to a new provider in January 2018, multiple problems ensued. Maxime Huré looks back on the opportunities and pitfalls presented by the changes of scale and operator that this switchover entailed, and sheds light on public authorities' mistakes, misgivings, and above all their growing dependence on large, globalized firms.
The Vélib' bicycle-sharing system, launched in 2007 in partnership with French

- Debates / bicycles, mobility, transport, public transportation, self-service, urban public service, Île-de-France, Paris region, Greater Paris, Paris, privatization, public–private partnership, municipal, urban services, urban technical networks, active mobility, Vélib', bicycle-sharing, cycling

In the shadow of the mayor

Michel Koebel & translated by Oliver Waine — 2014-06-25T04:55:00Z

After his investigation into the representativeness of local councillors in France, Michel Koebel has now turned his attention to the selection and sociology of cabinet members in medium-sized municipalities in France. This study highlights the hierarchy and ranking processes at play in local councils and the importance of “social filtering” according to age, gender and profession.
---- Series: Local elections as seen by the social sciences
Multiple factors come into play when French

- From the Field / democracy, local councillors, local democracy, municipal, elections, mayors

Preparing for a protest vote?

Rémi Lefebvre & translated by Oliver Waine — 2014-06-18T04:55:00Z

Between 2008 and 2014, the French Socialist Party was, more than ever before, a party of “local politicians”. Here, Rémi Lefebvre describes how, in the face of a protest vote, the party has sought to reduce the recent municipal elections to their “local” dimension alone, thus contributing to a further depoliticisation of the issues at stake, and indeed of the significance of these elections.
---- Series: Local elections as seen by the social sciences Note: the French version of this text was

- Debates / local democracy, municipal, vote, elections, abstention, Parti socialiste, Socialist Party

Municipal socialism in France from the interwar period to the 1970s

Aude Chamouard & translated by Oliver Waine — 2014-04-30T04:55:00Z

“Municipal socialism” has marked the history of many cities in France (Lille, Toulouse and Bordeaux, to name but three). The period between the two world wars saw the rise of the great figures of the Socialist Party – following in the footsteps of Henri Sellier – on the political landscape of urban France. But how did they differ from other elected representatives? And is it true to say they espoused an innovative form of local government? Following the recent municipal elections in France, we

- From the Field / France, local government, local authorities, local councillors, local democracy, municipal, Parti socialiste, municipal socialism, Socialist Party, patronage

Do local politicians represent the people? A sociological portrait

Michel Koebel & translated by Oliver Waine — 2012-11-28T05:55:00Z

France's 500,000 local councillors are regularly presented as the most popular elected officials and those closest to the French public. However, access to the positions of municipal councillor and mayor are increasingly subject to sexual, generational, residential and, above all, social selectivity: more retirees, civil servants and executives, and fewer manual workers and self-employed people.
Municipal councillors are regularly presented as the most popular elected officials with the

- Debates / inequalities, local authorities, local councillors, local democracy, municipal, elections, discrimination, mayors