These two chapters have been concerned with processes which are common to all political systems – the articulation and aggregation of demands and the integration of society through the reconciliation of interests. In both Britain and France local councillors play an essential part in these processes. They facilitate the expression of demands as well as being receivers of demands from individuals and groups, thus performing a double role. On occasion they are in effect the initiators of action. By a process of downward mobilisation they themselves activate groups in the local population to put forward demands.

The capacity of councillors to reflect priorities and also to bring about reconciliation of interests is partly related to the extent of their own integration into the locality. One indirect measure of integration is the degree to which councillors are socially representative of the local population. This is not an entirely satisfactory measure since it does not follow that councillors who are drawn from a similar background to the electorate necessarily mirror the views of the population nor that they are the best advocates of the views of the local population. The background of leaders is, therefore, often more an indication of social opportunities. Nevertheless, any social ‘bias’ in the composition of councillors may reflect the capacity of political institutions to activate different sectors of the local population.