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The Department of Politics and International Studies (PAIS) at the University of Warwick will host a thought-provoking seminar featuring Professor Patrick Le Galès, a leading scholar in urban sociology and political science. The seminar, titled “Metropolitan Governance as Organised Anarchy: The Case of the Paris Region”, will explore the complexities of governing large metropolitan areas, using Paris as a case study.

Drawing on his recent co-authored publication with Francesca Artioli in Cities (2025), Le Galès will show how governance in the Paris region is marked by fragmentation, overlapping jurisdictions, and a multiplicity of actors. Despite these challenges, he argued that collective action does occur, albeit in a non-linear and often opaque fashion. This mode of governance, which he terms “organised anarchy,” reflects a social-territorial world of loosely coupled organisations and contradictory policy goals.

Le Galès’ insights stem from decades of research in urban studies and comparative politics. He is a CNRS Research Professor at Sciences Po’s Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics, and was the founding Dean of the Sciences Po Urban School. His work has earned numerous accolades, including the CNRS Silver Medal and the Stein Rokkan Prize for comparative research in Europe.

In addition to his academic achievements, Le Galès is a Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy and a member of the Academia Europaea. His research interests span public policy, urban governance, European cities, and the financialisation of housing. He has held visiting positions at institutions including NYU, Hong Kong Baptist University, and Waseda University.

The seminar at Warwick offers a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge research on urban governance and to reflect on the broader implications for cities across Europe and beyond.