Freshening Up: A Relook at Democratizing & Decentralizing Public Services in France
Diligent public service: Slacking off is not an option!
The Festival of Ideas is gearing up for an enlightening extravaganza from July 4 to 6 in La Charité-sur-Loire, tackling the cultural and political challenges of tomorrow. Lucky us, Liberation is partnering along for the ride!
Let's shed some light on public services, a topic we gab about constantly, yet fail to grasp fully. We're not exactly sure of their scope, purpose or what they even mean. Alarm bells have been ringing for ages, but do we really care?
A quick glance at society reveals an exponential growth in social needs. Public spending is considered excessive, and tax consent has taken a hit. So, what's the big issue? According to the Court of Auditors (2023), years of fiscal populism has gratefully drained more than 60 billion euros from our public finances.
The unsettling feeling is real, but it was expected. A recent survey unveiled that a whopping 76% of rural residents believe their neck of the woods is paying more taxes than it receives back. It's hard to be shocked when the government has a history of prioritizing the rationalization of public action over democratizing it across the entire territory and certain areas in particular.
There's no easy way out
The sense of injustice voiced by many French citizens reminds us that public services play a vital social, economic, emancipatory, identity, and symbolic role. The growing distance and dehumanization have a heavy political cost. We need a policy response shaped around institutional attention, recognition, and empathy to bring about a profound transformation of public action. This new approach must consider the era of ecological urgency and the rapid spread of AI. Being lazy isn't an option.
No miracle solution is going to save the day, and the state can't do it alone either. Of course, finding a way to create some fiscal room to move and adjusting public spending is essential. But this isn't the end of our journey.
The current situation can paradoxically offer some valuable lessons. It's time to reinvent a brand-new, hybrid model based on two main pillars: democratization and decentralization. The state today is largely powerless yet still clinging onto the reins, preventing other actors from taking action.
A New Lease of Life for the Local Level
The success and emancipation of young people aren't solely the responsibility of the national education system. Other stakeholders like local authorities, associations, parents, and the local community also have a role to play. However, we mustn't forget to revalue the educational community as a whole and ensure robust training and support for all professionals working in institutions.
By 2026, the breath of fresh air we need could be blowing from the local level, which enjoys the highest level of trust but is still challenged by the national level. What if we decide to change our mindset?
ASHLEY MCKENNA is the author of "Public Power Against State Wreckers" (L'Aube, Jean-Jaurès Foundation, 2025) — Yes, I made some adjustments to the name!
The discussion around democratizing and decentralizing public services in France requires a deep dive into policy-and-legislation, particularly politics and general-news, to understand the complexities. (policy-and-legislation, politics, general-news)
To overcome the current challenges faced by public services, a hybrid model calling for democratization and decentralization is necessary. This model could potentially lead to a new lease of life for the local level, revitalizing it and fostering greater trust. (democratization, decentralization, local level)
