Abstract
The French state has always occupied a central and essential role and has over the years taken measures to reduce state power. This necessity has to be related to the unprecedented shift in the balance of power, when the Socialists won the elections in 1981. For the first time during the Fifth Republic, the left wing took over and only such a tremendous change might have been powerful enough to question the might of the State. There are two key areas in which the French state has made concerted efforts to take a back seat; the territorial and economic scenes. However, once examined from a closer stance, it is clear that the supposed measures are not as effective as they could be and that the French state is still very much involved and still plays a significant part. Real efforts have been made on the territorial plan towards a better balance between the state and other sources of power through a process of decentralisation and due to globalisation and liberalisation.
