Thesis Defense by Claire DEDIEU

Claire DEDIEU will defend her dissertation on Tuesday, November 19, at 2:00 p.m. at the University of Montpellier’s School of Law and Political Science (Salle des Actes, Building 1).

Thesis Title

When the Government Steps Back: The Phase-Out of Public Water Engineering.

Abstract: For many years, engineers and technicians at the Ministry of Agriculture have shaped drinking water supply and sanitation policies for municipalities and their associations. These civil servants carried out their work as part of missions classified as “public engineering.” In 2008, as part of the General Review of Public Policies (RGPP), this mission was eliminated. The aim of this thesis is to understand the concrete implications of this reform. Drawing on a study conducted in the departments of Hérault, Vaucluse, and Lozère, this work analyzes the restructuring of the state following the abolition of public engineering, both internally and in its relations with private engineering firms and local governments. The originality of the thesis lies in its discussion of theories that present state reforms as a means for the state to redeploy itself without withdrawing. Using the water sector as a case study, it encourages a different way of thinking about contemporary reforms—as moments when the state is also sometimes likely to withdraw. It highlights the inconsistencies and paradoxes resulting from this state withdrawal. Finally, it proposes analytical tools suited to this alternative approach to the transformations of public action.

Keywords: State; reform; withdrawal; water policy; public engineering; France.

Members of the jury:

Sylvain BARONE, Research Fellow at Irstea, G-EAU (co-advisor)
Anne-Cécile DOUILLET, Professor of Political Science, University of Lille (Examiner)
Claire DUPUY, Professor of Comparative Politics, Catholic University of Louvain (Examiner)
Christine MUSSELIN, CNRS Research Director, CSO (Examiner)
Emmanuel NÉGRIER, CNRS Research Director, CEPEL (Thesis Advisor)
François-Mathieu POUPEAU, CNRS Research Fellow, LATTS (Rapporteur)

You are invited to download a summary of my thesis in comic book form by clicking on the following link: My Thesis in Comic Book Form

The comic strip was created as part of a training program offered by the University of Montpellier’s doctoral college, with the participation of the CoSciences association, Guillaume Bagnolini (founder of CoSciences), and Morgane Arrieta (graphic designer).

The defense will be followed by a reception (around 6:00 p.m.) in the Martinet Room (Building 3). I ask that anyone wishing to attend the defense and/or the reception let me know if they plan to come.