CEPEL

Anaïs Lafage-Coutens

Thesis advisors: Emmanuel Négrier (CEPEL); Vincent Simoulin (CERTOP)

Thesis since 2018

“Restructuring of Territorial Powers: The Birth of Occitanie”
“Restructuring of Territorial Powers: The Birth of Occitanie”

Summary/Abstract

A major reform, through the Act of January 27, 2014, on the “modernization of local public action and the strengthening of metropolitan areas” (known as the MAPTAM Act), the Act of January 16, 2015, on the “delimitation of regions, regional and departmental elections, and amending the electoral calendar,” and the law on “the new territorial organization of the Republic” enacted on August 7, 2015 (known as the NOTRe law) and implemented on January 1, 2016, brings significant changes to the organization of the regions.

This dissertation seeks to understand the reconfiguration of territorial powers between regions undergoing restructuring and emerging metropolitan areas in the wake of this territorial reform. To this end, the case study of the new Occitanie-Pyrénées-Méditerranée Region was selected. The methodology employed is an inductive approach grounded in the sociology of organizations, the sociology of public action, and political science.

A major reform, through the Act of January 27, 2014, on the “modernization of territorial public action and the affirmation of metropolitan areas” (known as the MAPTAM Act), the Act of January 16, 2015, on the “delimitation of regions, regional and departmental elections, and the modification of the electoral calendar,” and the law on the “new territorial organization of the Republic” promulgated on August 7, 2015 (known as the NOTRE law) and implemented on January 1, 2016, introduces significant changes to the organization of the regions.

This thesis seeks to understand the realignment of territorial powers between regions undergoing restructuring and emerging metropolitan areas resulting from this territorial reform. To this end, the case study of the new Occitania-Pyrenees-Mediterranean Region was selected. The methodology employed is an inductive approach grounded in the sociology of organizations, the sociology of public action, and political science.

*keywords, FR + ENG

Regionalization, Public Policy, Politics, Merger, Metropolization

Regionalization; Policies, Politics, Mergers, Metropolitanization

Publications and Presentations

Article

  • Lafage-Coutens, A., Prenat-Ville, C., & Simoulin, V., 2019. The Political and Organizational Structure of the Occitanie Region. Pôle Sud, No. 50.

Communication

  • Simoulin, V., and Lafage-Coutens, A. “The Birth of a New Region (Occitanie) and the Questions It Raises for Political Sociology,” 4th Franco-Chinese Workshop: “New Perspectives on the Social Sciences,” November 15, 2018 –Toulouse
  • Lafage-Coutens, A., “Being a CIFRE Doctoral Student in a Political Context: The Case of a Regional Council”; Study Day:“Working With and For: What Approach Should We Take in Action Research? From the Field to Epistemology, ” April 4, 2019, Reims.
  • Lafage-Coutens, A. , “Regional Mergers: Internal Reorganization of Policy Portfolios, Imposition, Hybridization, or a New Model? The Case of the New Occitanie-Pyrénées-Méditerranées Region” / Discussant: Marion Paoletti, ST 06,15thAFSPCongress, July 2–4, 2019, Bordeaux.
  • Lafage Coutens, A., “Capacity for Political Action and Territorial Reorganization: The Case of Sectoral Competence in Economic Development within the New Occitanie Region,” Symposium on “Financial Constraints, Merger Policies, and Multilevel Governance: The Challenges of Territorial Reform,” November 7–8, 2019, Rennes.
  • Lafage-Coutens, A., “The Creation of the Occitanie/Pyrénées-Méditerranée Region: Between Merger Processes and Integration Processes in New Public Management,” Discussant: Philippe Bezès, Seminar: “Public Organizations in the Process of Merging,” November 18, 2019 – Bordeaux

Administrative responsibilities and duties

  • Since 2018: Elected representative of CERTOP doctoral students

Scientific Responsibilities and Activities

  • 2019–2020: Co-organizer of the seminar“Current Trends in Social Science Research at CEPEL” (Montpellier)

Educational Responsibilities and Activities

  • 2017–2018: “Empowerment and Major Trends in Economics,” taught by Arnaud Buchs, First-Year Undergraduate Course, University of Toulouse 2 Jean-Jaurès (3 groups)

Education, Academic Degrees, and Honors

  • Master’s Degree (M2) – Institutions, Economy, and Society – School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS) – 2016–2017
    Thesis: The Evolution of Legislation on the Financing of Political Parties and Election Campaigns Based on Administrative Archives.
  • Master’s Degree (M2) – Sociology and Political Philosophy – Paris Diderot University – 2015–2016
    Thesis: Transparency in Political Life. The Case of the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life (HATVP).