Beyond the unitary state? Public opinion, political institutions and public policy in Brittany

This paper investigates the new regionalism in Brittany, one of France's historic regions. It is based on findings from a mass opinion survey carried out in July 2001, as well as on insights drawn from over 70 semi-structured interviews. The quantitative and qualitative evidence is interpreted through reference to four hypotheses, concerning issues of Breton identity, autonomy, pragmatism and political opportunity structures. While our findings allow us to establish the pertinence of the new regionalist problematic in Brittany, we conclude that, in the French case, theories of 'new regionalism' must be understood within the framework of an overarching state tradition that regulates and channels regional pressures and creates strong incentives for a system of national political regulation.