Ce que peut la sociologie

When it is relational, processual, and it articulates the incorporated dispositions of the actors and the contexts of their actions, sociology “desevidentialize,” denaturalize, desubstantialize, and historicize the social world by contributing to do away with spontaneous representations that distort the reality of things. Besides, when sociology studies the social at the level of the individuals and individual actions, it destroys the fictions (juridical and philosophical) of the isolated individuals, enclosed on himself, free and fully conscious of everything. By producing images of the real state of the social world, sociology fully participates in the democratic life of our societies and should, therefore, be at the heart of the formation of citizens. Lorsqu'elle est relationnelle, processuelle, et qu'elle articule les dispositions incorporées des acteurs et les contextes de leurs actions, la sociologie ‘désévidentialise’, dénaturalise, désubstantialise et historicise le monde social en contribuant à chasser les représentations spontanées qui déforment la réalité des choses. Lorsque, par ailleurs, elle étudie le social à l’échelle des individus et des actions individuelles, elle détruit les fictions (juridique comme philosophique) de l'individu isolé, enfermé sur lui‐même, libre et pleinement conscient de tout. Produisant des images un tant soit peu précises et justes de l’état réel du monde social, la sociologie participe pleinement à la vie démocratique de nos sociétés et devrait, pour cette raison, être au c?ur de la formation des citoyens.     

Confiance et qualité des produits alimentaires : une approche par la sociologie des relations marchandes

Given the current crises, what means do actors implement in order to redefine the conditions for both a social contract and an economic adjustment between the producers and consumers of foodstuffs? These means can be interpreted as ways to cope with the risk of a mismatch between consumer expectations and the quality of produce in the marketplace - as new ways of assembling actors around interests that are not always stable. This quite high degree of indeterminacy, which comes into play throughout the market game, makes it necessary to better understand forms of association among actors and the arrangements that emerge as the market evolves as a function of new forms of adjustment. The actions undertaken by a group of mussel producers in France are reported. Under pressure to standardize produce, they have, nonetheless, imagined solutions for identifying produce and sorts of production so as to force the marketplace to deal with differences in quality. - Special issue on Agriculture and food.     

Les prud’hommes et la fabrique du droit du travail : contribution à une sociologie des rôles judiciaires

How do the persons on French labor relation tribunals (prud’hommes), where representatives from employer associations and labor unions sit, help, through the awards they make, shape law in the field of labor relations? A “sociographic” survey brings to light both the plurality of forms of commitment to this institution and the key role played by a group of “professionals” in these tribunals. The analysis of how these persons have been socialized in this institution and of how they formulate judgements shows that the awards made stem from three different but combined rationales: the law, labor union representation and the world of work. Another way of studying the work of a judiciary is proposed in between the social arrangements of magistrates, institutional affiliations and practices related to judgements.     

Les apories de la solidarité familiale Contribution à la sociologie des configurations de justice entre les familles et l’État, dans le cas français

Despite its many meanings, “solidarity” has once again become current in French to describe macro as well as microsocial relations. Social relations in and outside the family have not always been understood as instances of solidarity. But is this solidarity the same as the one established by the welfare state? Forms of family solidarity that have risen in esteem over the past two decades are “deconstructed”. The conditions for family solidarity are examined; and conceptual paradoxes, described. This approach suggests that family solidarity, as this concept is normally used, mixes together several systems of justice that should be clearly distinguished, especially if we want to put this phrase to a judicious social use.     

La sociologie clinique comme science rigoureuse et comme pratique sociale

How can clinical sociology be considered from an epistemological point of view, since it deals with social problems not in their overall dimension, but seen as specific situations where concrete people are suffering? This paper is concerned with a two-fold epistemological difficulty: from the one side, studying such problems could involve a therapeutic intervention that exceeds a purely scientific approach; then, has a clinical sociologist to deal with a social therapy? And how far does that (not) involve any political involvement? From the other side, under which conditions could he (she) generalize information coming from his (her) experience as to contribute to social theory (according to Merton's suggestions about theory and research)? An effective contribution to answer such questions can come from the concept of ‘cultural pattern’, as pointed out in this paper.     

Décloisonner la sociologie de l’engagement militant. Note critique sur quelques tendances récentes des travaux français

This critique reviews an especially active field of research during the last 20 years in France: the sociology of activism. In this current of sociology, a new interactionist paradigm has emerged that takes into account activists’ careers and the process of becoming an activist. This critique focuses on how the idea of the “rewards” of activism has been reworked. After reviewing theoretical debates about whether or not new forms of activism and new activists are arising, this article points out two issues for current research, both related to the social division of labor, namely: improving our understanding of, on the one hand, the linkage between macrosocial changes and activism and, on the other hand, of the way that organizations shape activism.     

Les émeutes urbaines de l’automne 2005 : cadres d’analyse et points aveugles de la sociologie française

Sociological interpretations of the suburban riots in France during the autumn of 2005 have been the subject of many a comment. This critique places the more original interpretations in the context of the unstated paradigms adopted by “understanding” authors, who have sought to provide a meaning to persons whose actions were supposedly deprived of it. There is a flagrant need for studies of how the crisis was globally managed with respect to local events - as if the persons involved in regulating the riots were not as worthy of study by sociology. Case studies are emerging to fill this need that have more awareness of the interactions between parties during these events.