ABSTRACT
This chapter considers a possible development of the relationship that the French Antilles and French Guiana established with the French state, at a time that the 'Quatre Vieilles' colonies seem to have opted for differentiated status within the French Republic. It focuses around two considerations: the evolution of discursive categories mobilized by the players; the way in which these discursive categories permeated public action to the point of modifying the frame of this action in the Departement doutre-mer's (DMOs). The dual DOM/territoires doutre-mer classification was introduced from 1946: it designated territories integrated on differing terms within the Republic, before being used to establish exclusive categories through which French communities abroad were understood. The republican ideal of equality is combined with persistent inequalities between mainland France and these overseas territories, but also between their respective populations. In the French Caribbean territories, the question of autonomy is historically sensitive. It has widely contributed to structuring the political system and political debates.
