Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines : Le dur apprentissage de l'intercommunalité

Abstract

French new towns which have been conceived within the framework of an authoritarian regional development, offer singular examples of « inter-communality » (grouping of communes with common purposes). In Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines the communes fight against this imposed « inter-communality » invoking the defence of their interests. Solidarity was first practised within the community trade union to control the process of town planning. But as the communes grew in size and strength they eventually developed conflicting relationships with each other that the maintenance of the new town against their will did not improve. Today, however, as they are about to enter a « community of towns », the communes of Saint-Quentin have perhaps the opportunity of eventually constructing a freely accepted « inter-communality ». © Presses Universitaires de France.