Public opinion and governance: state-formation in Savoy following the French annexation (1860-1861)

This article will explore the interplay between public opinion and local governance through the lens of state formation in Savoy in the first two years of French rule. Savoy and the county of Nice, formerly Piedmontese provinces, officially became French départements on 14 June 1860. Napoleon III wanted to use state-building in Savoy as a propaganda tool aimed at both internal and external (European) public opinion, to showcase the grandeur of his regime and the benefits of French rule. Following the April plebiscite in Savoy – which established the importance of popular sovereignty in international politics – state formation in Savoy was also characterised by mutual links with public opinion. The new state agents in Savoy attempted to win Savoyards’ ‘hearts and minds’ through a moderate implementation of French laws in the first two years, with scope for flexibility and accommodations. They also ensured – through an active policy of political communication – that the large financial investment of the French state in Savoy was not lost on the Savoyard population. This example therefore provides an interesting lens to study the beginnings of modern local governance, attuned to public opinion and aware of the need to complement public action with political communication.