La politique des services publics dans l'espace rural : du discours aux pratiques

For a long time, the keeping up of the public services was considered as one of the priorities of the policy for rural development. Then the right to exist for "the - public - service- for - all 'was put forward, this right being part of the general principles of our constitution. Since the eighties, ideas have changed. The appearance of the logic of modernization in accordance with what was called the "renewal policy " of the public service - a policy set up by Michel Rocard in a circular of February 23rd) 989 - appears as a need both for the producers and the consumers, a condition of profitability for the former, a condition of quality for the latter. To implement this new policy, the instructions at the level of the "département" for the organization and improvement of the services have to be defined and commissions, at the level of the "département" too, have to be set up according to a partnership which must be as wide as possible. What is the meaning of such a policy ? What are the consequences for the rural public services ? The analysis of this policy raises many questions as far as the aims and the modes of enforcement are concerned. Furthermore it does not look to take enough into account the realities of the rural world and more particularly that of the rural areas which are said to be hard to live in.