Savoir être maire d’une municipalité rurale : les registres d’actions du « municipalisme pragmatique »

Abstract

This article focuses on the work of mayors in small municipalities. While the rural municipal scene is often described as “apolitical,” this article suggests examining the hypothesis that small municipalities are subject to unique political rules and mechanisms, where the negotiation of a territorial political order takes place on a daily basis. The study is based on a qualitative and exploratory methodology. The demonstration is based on a keyword press review and semi-structured interviews with mayors in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. The results highlight two areas of pragmatic action by mayors. The first concerns political processes: building credibility that draws on the community to construct a common vision of municipal missions within the council. The second concern administrative processes: building trust with senior management to collectively manage services that are adequate in the eyes of the community.