Les groupes d'action municipale dans le système politique local : Grenoble, Valence, Chambéry

The municipal action groups in the local political system: Grenoble, Valence, Chambéry, by Jean-Pierre Bernard, Jean-Marc Blancherie, Patrick Lecomte During the municipal elections of March 1965 a list led by M. Hubert Dubedout regrouping under the title "municipal action" the political organisations of the non-communist left together with cadres, technicians and animators... from different horizons succeeded in winning the Grenoble town council. This unexpected local success gave birth to numerous groups modeled on Grenoble. The rationalization of the experiment produced an ideology integrating some of the perspectives of the left-wing parties but within the framework of a renewal of political practices at local level. In March 1971 the Municipal Action Groups fought the parties in the election field. The comparison of the aims and methods of the groups in Valence and Chambery with reference to the experiment in municipal affairs carried out in Grenoble shows the differences and the similitude of the different attempts. Despite their different electoral performances resulting from the local situation these projects have in common their philosophy concerning the administration and animation of town-life and their belief in a necessary but ambiguous collaboration with left wing forces, as the Communist Party is against the experiment. The originality of the Municipal Action Groups no doubt comes up against the resistance of traditional political organisations and if they want to achieve their ends they are obliged to become part of a system whose substance and functions they contest. [Revue française de science politique XXII (2), avril 1972, pp. 296-318]