> The former, concentrating state power in Paris, and limiting (or even outright suppressing) the importance and influence of the rest of the country (especiall

> The former, concentrating state power in Paris, and limiting (or even outright suppressing) the importance and influence of the rest of the country (especially the southern half) has been a constant theme since the Bourbons: they underwent the project of moving france from a decentralised feudal state to a centralised absolute monarchy. This is a great call, and it should be noted that the same pattern has also been adopted in Spain, with the nation's hub in Madrid and the spokes in regional capitals. The notable exception is Spain's stretches of the Mediterranean corridor, which is a part of the trans-european transport network. Still, notably these stretches do not add further connections through Barcelona.