Des ruraux et des projets d'aménagement de l'espace rural

For the past ten years or so, a deliberate planning policy has been undertaken in France, concerning rural space either directly or in connection with urban centres. All the country-dwellers in the regions to which these plans apply are therefore, in theory, concerned ; but most of them do not in fact consider themselves concerned, or only slightly. The writers of this paper, basing their argument on surveys carried out during four planning projects in a « department » in the Paris basin, point out the gap between these projects and the opinions and aspirations of the inhabitants. This leads to a consideration of the way projects are worked out and decisions made. Several types of social groups have different roles to play in the implementation of town and country planning, but it rarely corresponds to a real confrontation of the projects and expectations of all the groups. A dominant influence is apparent, cutting across both urban and rural social circles, and usually opposed to the current rising from a collective desire for development.