Abstract
Since 1990, France has actively introduced new public transportation systems and restructured urban centres. Consensus building has played an essential role in their realization. This research first describes the history of consensus-building public policies in France. It then summarizes consensus-building steps defined by the law, particularly prior consultation and public review, describing the institutional changes since 2010. We illustrate this by describing a case study of consensus-building activities done by local authorities in Angers, a city with about 150,000 people: between 2013-2019, the city converted parking lots into pedestrian-only spaces. This research reflects on the evolution of consensus building in France over the past thirty years and considers its current characteristics, significance, and future issues. Our work contributes to the discussion on consensus building in Japan by highlighting the importance of local governments and leaders and their role in implementing consensus-building activities.
