The document discusses "pays" (local countries) in France as a new territorial level established by laws in 1995, 1999, and 2003. It analyzes the diversity of "pays" through a comparative study of the Pays Basque and Couserans regions. While both are border areas with collective identities, they differ significantly in population size, economic dynamics, and level of federative projects. The examples show the extreme diversity among "pays" and importance of issues like identity, sustainable economic development, and role of "pays" as a level of proximity for territorial intelligence projects centered on local networks, representations, and immaterial economy.

1. Colloque CAENTI – Besançon – October 2008, 16 th & 17 th New “ pays ” (little countries) as local level of the process of Territorial Intelligence in France. Comparative study of the Pays Basque and the Couserans Christian BOURRET – Eguzki URTEAGA