The chapter considers the case of the French city of Lyon, from which a distinctive narrative emerged centred on public-private interactions and the role of the business community in driving prosperity. We understand urban narratives as comprising a mix of material and constructed approaches; the chapter pursues the social construction of the entrepreneurial city by studying the role of organisational metaphors - such as the Spirit of Enterprise and the Pack - as providing a form of legitimisation of public-private dynamics in the Greater Lyon area.
The chapter investigates the 'private government' formed between political and business elites over a period of two decades or so. It seeks out a coherent narrative to accompany the exercise of the 'private government' that has steered the fortunes of the city in the economic domain. The main paradox is expressed as follows: the relationship is peppered by symbols, practices and metaphors, but it is a highly confidential, non-transparent regime, ruled by a set of shared understandings and assumptions that are taken as self-evident, not requiring massive investment in an urban narrative.
Get Access or Sign In Register. Advanced Search Help. Previous Chapter Next Chapter. Chapter 6: Socio-genesis of a private government: Greater Lyon's narrative of the 'metropolitan governance' of economic development policies. Aisling Healy. Restricted access. Keywords: private government ; Lyon ; business ; governance ; elites. You are not authenticated to view the full text of this chapter or article.
Access options Get access to the full article by using one of the access options below. Other access options. Personal login Log in with your Elgar Online account. Constructing Narratives for City Governance. Christelle Morel Journel. Monograph Book. Buy Print. Table of Contents. Cities and Urban Geography. Law - Academic. Regulation and Governance.
Politics and Public Policy. Public Administration and Management. Public Policy. Urban and Regional Studies. Regional Studies. Urban Studies. Share Link Copy this link, or click below to email it to a friend. Your current browser may not support copying via this button.
