The Rise and Decline of Micronationalism in Mainland France

Abstract

The post-war period has seen the development of a number of ‘micronationalist’ movements in the regions of France. These have been based on cultural, economic and political demands. This has led them from a strategy of territorial lobbying to demands for autonomy but the cultural, economic and political strands of the movements have been poorly integrated. In the 1970s, much of the impetus of micro-nationalism was absorbed by the parties of the left which, in the course of the realignment of the party system, were able to accommodate most of their demands. The process is illustrated by an examination of Brittany and Languedoc.