Local organizations have witnessed the changes in French rural areas for over a century. Long ignored, they are currently in demand in the implementation of government policy regarding rural development. Local organizations have been asked or asked to advance participative democracy from the first local contracts in the 70’s to the LOADDT including the European LEADER program. They have been active in facilitating the setting up of common regional projects. This thesis deals with the relationship of local organizations with local communities and the way they are involved in development procedures. In the analysis of the setting up of local organizations we have adopted a socio-spatial approach to the network of organizations created. Government policy on rural development, by asking local organizations to participate, will interact to a greater or lesser degree with these organizations and cause them to redefine themselves. The political sphere chosen by the local elected officials will influence the socio-spatial configurations of the organizations and guide their involvement in the setting up of the regional project. Whether volunteered or requested, their involvement will vary according to the guidelines followed in the setting up of the regional plan by the local elected officials and project managers. This analytical model has been applied to Pays Quercy -Rouergue, a regional project which was never implemented , which led to the modifications in the LOADDT.
The participation of local organizations in government rural development policy : the impact of non-profit organizations on local communities