Abstract EN:

Following the exemple of the individual and the company manager, is the public representative in the process of modifying his relationship with space? thus, this thesis constitutes research into the changing relationships between the political system and the geographical space of planning. This transformation, albeit hardly percptible, is analysed through the network of towns policy which was set up in france by the d. A. T. A. R. (the planning and regional development commission) at the and of the 1980's. In terms of this organisational dimension, the concept of network- as opposed to that of terrritory-gives a more relevant expression of the change in the town councillor's behavioural logic. Showing the "reticular logic" charactised by co-operation, the search for complementarity and partnerships, the primacy of project and the flexibility of action- into which this public representative enters, seems to constitute a major advancement in this relationship with space and territory. By the territorial discontinuity they see-mingly impose, networks of town represen ne of the most fitting means of testing this central hypothe-sis. Then, networks of towns are closely examined through the concept of network and its fundamental features. The town councillor's transition to a working mode based on the concept of network, primarily in the speeches generated but also partly in the actions camed out as a result. This "reticular logic" shows, in this singular context, a new relationship between the councillor and space, indeed territory.