Title: Restructuring of a civic authority responsible for environmental issues

Authors: B. Tiberghien

Addresses: Public Management and Territorial Governance, Institute of Aix-en-Provence, IMPGT, Paul Cezanne University, Aix-Marseille III, 21 Gaston de Saporta, 13625 Aix-en-Provence Cedex 1, France

Abstract: This research focused on the restructuring of a French local authority in charge of environmental management in a territory confronted with five major natural hazards: floods, forests fires, earthquakes, avalanches and ground movement. A recent analysis of developments in both public and private sectors has indicated the emergence of post-bureaucratic organisations. How do public organisations react when confronted to new environmental pressures? What is the impact of environmental changes on organisational practices? The historical neo-institutionalism perspective insists on the continuity of incremental change more than on a radical change in public policies.

Keywords: environmental issues; natural hazards; France; neo-institutionalism; post-bureaucratic management; public management; public value; reformism; relativism; strategy; sustainable development; territorial governance; sustainability; local authority restructuring; environmental management; public policy; environmental changes; organisational practices.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2009.023741

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2009 Vol.10 No.3/4, pp.382 - 396

Published online: 09 Mar 2009 *

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