Pôle Sud - Année 2000 - Volume 12 - Numéro 1 - Pages 63-78The partnership approach is a concept which is alien to the tradition of state control in France, to the crucial political legitimacy of local mayors and alien to the division between public and private, particularly from the legal standpoint. The challenge to the State and more generally the challenge to the relationship between the State, bcal authorities, firms, associations and the various agencies has paved the way for an explosion in the number of partnerships of all types, particularly but not exclusively in the area of social policy. This concept enjoyed particular good fortune in social and urban policies which had to cope with rising poverty. The paper is developed from the research done in Brittany, Lille and Mantes la Jolie to show the potential and the limits of the partnership approach, an argument to contest the more normative use. 16 pages Source : Persée ; Ministère de la jeunesse, de l’éducation nationale et de la recherche, Direction de l’enseignement supérieur, Sous-direction des bibliothèques et de la documentation.