The chapter divides in two parts. A first section opposes the elements that earned France a reputation for being statistwith the growth and vivacity of associational life. A second section then asks if these changes are only superficial. Despite the difficulties of the traditional social partners to drive socio-economic reform in France, I argue that groups have become an important part of the French system of representation, especially as forums for deliberation and the implementaton of policy projects and instituionnlized feedback mechanisms for governmental initiatives.
