UN RENOUVEAU DE LA PARTICIPATION ASSOCIATIVE ? L'engagement et le militantisme au sein du comité Attac Isère

1.3.1.2 The role of the intellectuals in the social conflicts

Attac was born from the co-operation from several monthly magazines and reflection and news weeklies^324(*). That thus does not have anything astonishing that the circles of intellectuals occupy an important place in association. Association thus has its « scientists », on which it rests to carry out « counter-evaluations ». The committee Attac Isere was also based on the initiative of the president of the committee isérois of Reason To act.

The scientific Council of Attac was born from these various gatherings of scientists^325(*). Its operation is carried out on the mode of a network : one « hard core » permanent, structured around the organizations founders, meets at least once a month, while a whole of groups meet punctually^326(*). The participation in the Council is carried out on three distinct modes : certain members have a direct participation by the means by ' think tank ' (« Control financial flows and international financial institutions », « Retirements, wage saving and funds of pensions », « Environment and the durable development », « Transnational firms », etc), others are present as representatives of an organization with which a joint position is adopted and defended (it is the case, for example, of the positions defined in co-operation with the CCC-OMC or the country Confederation), others, finally, are charged by an autonomous organization with preparing a document, for the account of Attac, which is subjected to the scientific Council and which can be taken again together, or by only one of the organizations (for example, the cancellation of the debt of the poor countries with the C.ADTM) ».

On the other hand, the committee isérois maintains little bonds with the groups of intellectuals who belong to the founder members. There exists, for example, in Grenoble no bond between the group of the Friends of the diplomatic World and the Attac committee. The persons in charge for the local group of Reason To act took part in the launching of the committee, but they were gradually withdrawn. Bernard Floris who is representing it with the turnover isérois is attending seldom the meetings. In the same way, no inquired already adhered to a think tank. François explains that it wishes, through his engagement, to find one « tally of action » which enables him to be located on « ground of the daily fight ». It considers that the think tanks are connected with « coffee [S] philosophical [S] » which is located, above all, on « ground of the ideas ». This is why, T it explains, it preferred to militate in Attac rather than to adhere at a rate of Agir or with the Copernic foundation. François notes a cut between the intellectuals and the militants. He considers, moreover, that the standpoint of Bourdieu goes in the good direction but, that on the other hand, the association which he founded (Reason To act) does not continue the same step. He regrets that its members « do not discuss with the striker the SNCF or the employee the plan dismissal but with the intellectual executives the trade unions or associations ». Thomas, who belongs to a working medium, also notes this cut between the intellectuals and the militants. According to him, them « tricks in Bourdieu [...] are well but [...] are comprehensible by 5% of the employees ». Thomas considers that the intellectuals have a role to play in the social movements. This is why, it thought, while taking part in the creation of the committee Attac Isere, capacity to establish the link between the two.

François: It is not a literary engagement [...] And thus when I said that it was not a literary engagement, I say that if there had not been matter behind, of the social forces behind, of people who invested themselves in this trick. I would not be to go there. For example there is an association of the Friends of the diplomatic World, I do not go there. It is a choice, a political choice but of investment [...] What I seek it is not a framework of discussions simply. It is a framework of action. Here thus I need discussions to act and I need action to nourish the discussion. I am not located... I understand that there are people who do that. I do not seek a philosophical coffee or a political coffee. It is not my option [...] Yes and then they try to establish links with the trade-union world, of course. But it is not there. where one will act. One will make meetings. But on the ground of the social action and political it is a our function. That is not Attac. Yes that is not Attac. It was an association « on the ground », on the ground of the daily fight.... It is more on the ground of the ideas. There is full with things, like the network of Bourdieu with Raison To act. It is well. But that works another field. Yes sociologiquement that works another field... It is clear. But it is useful [...] There is a foundation which is called Copernic foundation, I do not know if you know. They leave the publications... I will not militate there inside. I have buddies who are in it, of people of the League who militate [...] I think that that [the cut between militants and intellectuals] will reabsorb in practice but this cut is strong. It is what Bourdieu in 1995 tried to do while trying to discuss at the station Lyon with the strikers the SNCF and their statement what it thought of the Juppe plan. It is a step which consists to go in the street and to try to draw up a relationship with people. It is a pity which it remained there. With Reason To act, it is not any more the same bond, they do not discuss with the striker the SNCF or the employee the plan dismissal but with the intellectual executives the trade unions or associations. I think that it is necessary to manage to decompartmentalize. To decompartmentalize, it is not enough to be member of an association, it as should be understood as there are different forms. The intellectual production it is a different work and that is supplemented.

Thomas : I have the idea always at the head that there are today intellectuals who are engaged and who have their word to say and which have a capacity to synthesize, to fact of arising the essence of the analysis economic and political and which can transmit in a simple way to people. Reason to act, I saw that it was a group of intellectuals and I said myself, us hard-working and paid, one will leave them gamberger all only and will not lead to tricks in Bourdieu which are well but which is comprehensible by 5% of the employees. I read passages like Souffrances in France. And I thought that that would be although us one bears witness with our words, so that the intellos can expose us their concepts with our words to us, because if they continue and they will not be included/understood. Me I contacted Raison To act and I said to them how me technician in a Grenoble-native company, how I perceive the world which surrounds us and how I can make the relay compared to people who are around me [...] I thought of being able to be used as bond.

* ³²⁴ One little to note that among the members of the turnover appear Jean-Pierre Beauvais in the title of the review Politis and Bernard Ginisty with the title of Christian the Témoignage review.

* ³²⁵ Rene Passet, the president of the scientific Council specifies that it is about a regrouping «  people come from different backgrounds. Some are keynésiens, other Marxists, and others still one joined us by the means of the economy of the development or the world problems of the environment  ». Faujas (Alain), «misadventures of the Tobin tax or how to calm the speculation  financial?  », The World, Supplement the World Economy, 1/09/1998, p. 6.

* ³²⁶ «  More than of a council - evoking a closed structure - it is of a network - structure ramified, opened, not hierarchical and likely to extend according to the needs - which it is appropriate to speak.  » Passet (Renet), «  An assessment at at the end of 2000  »