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

2.1.2.2 A generation 68 ?

Among the principal events structuring the French political life, May 68 seems particularly relevant to include/understand engagement within Attac. Several analogies seem to testify to a proximity between the two « events ». First of all, as recalled by Jean-Pierre Goff, May 68 were before all the work of the middle class^392(*). However as one already noted, the middle class also profit from a strong representation within the associati&on. In addition, in Attac, the reference to the topic of the Utopia seems to return to May 68^393(*). Thus, certain slogans of Attac close to those of May 68^394(*) testifies to one « philosophy » similar. Lastly, following May 68, the current of the political ecology developed with which Attac seems to have several common points^395(*). Thomas Marty noticed besides that many militants of the Toulouse committee are declared near to political ecology^396(*).

It would seem that certain correspondences exist between Attac and May 68. Can one conclude from it in so far as engagement within Attac is related to the participation in May 68 ? According to the study of Thomas Marty, it is possible to note the presence of many « soixante-huitards » among the militants of the Toulouse committee. 39,4% of the questioned people state y to have taken part^397(*). Moreover, among the people having attended the events of May 68, 72,5% state y to have taken part in way « active ». However, beyond this générationnelle correspondence, it is possible to deduce from it a bond from cause for purpose between engagement within Attac and the participation in May 68 ?

For that, it is possible to analyze the representations that inquired have May 68. Among the five inquired which has « lived » May 68, four took part directly in the events^398(*). For Luc and Julie, May 68 seems to have represented a rather important event. Julie qualifies May 68 of « alarm clock » which brought it to « to go down in the street ». This event had besides several repercussions in the life of Julie, since upon May 68 Julie followed the choice to militate in committees of districts and one « organization progressist » catholic. In addition, the questioning of the traditional educational modes encouraged to register his/her children in schools « alternatives » founded on the method « Freinet »^399(*). One can in addition note that the representation of May 68 of Julie seems to agree with her engagement to Attac. Indeed, it evokes about the FRIEND one « catch » which led it to militate^400(*). May 68 also seems to represent an important event for Luc. Its participation in May 68 primarily was at the level of its company. It acted, according to him, of a reflection on the reorganization of work and the place of paid in the company. Lastly, Luc evokes with nostalgia one « humanistic respect » which existed then within the companies. On the other hand, it would seem that May 68 did not represent something of fundamental for Fabien. It qualifies this event of « oxygen puff ». Besides it adopts a rather critical position with respect to the demonstrators. However, it appears that this representation coincides with that of its engagement within Attac. Fabien defines its adhesion as one « sympathy » for the association which also gets one to him « oxygen puff ». Perhaps this similarity of the terms employed by Fabien to qualify on the one hand its participation in May 68 and on the other hand its adhesion with Attac translates the existence of a bond between the two facts. It is probable that there is a relation between the engagement of surveyed and their participation in May 68. However, it is difficult to evaluate its importance. A broader sample would make it possible to precisely analyze the nature of this report/ratio.

Julie : I took part in May 68, finally say that May 68 was... I had already three children and I awoke by telling me the world should not move without me I am descended in the street. May 68 surely had an important impact on what we were, I say well what we were my husband and me and our children since we put them at the new school, i.e. all that were the great ideas in May 68. It was a little bit particular education and it gave to the style of the day all that was Freinet... With so-called a very important taking into account of the personality of each child. At the same time there were efforts but this says our children made the primary education and after they were found in the very traditional secondary and that was very hard, and it is for that that I say bus supposedly as there was no continuity in the secondary, there was a rather strong confrontation with a very open pedagogy and then all that is traditional. That very difficult summer. Then for May 68 one expressed, my husband and me one was very left fascinating and that to lead us to militate... Finally to militate, it is much to say, one belonged to groups of districts and then we were Christian catholic militants and that led us to militate in certain organizations progressists and that led us to break completely with the church and now we are without religion, atheists [...] I had the impression that the world moved without me and that it was unbearable! There was something of phenomenal which occurred and I was not going to miss that!

Luc : Me in 1968, I made strike pickets, without being syndicated. CFDT more or less required of me, insofar as they felt that I was recipient of a certain number of things, I were very well seen in CFDT but I did not adhere, I worked in Paris at Marcel Dassault. There was to be CFDT and CGT. Remain the strike in 1968 and to the end Dassault gave a premium to any world, one did not have to fight for our wages. It gave an additional premium. Because it was one period which was not the period of now. It is one rich period and he did not want to put the trade unions at back. In May 68 one held meetings for saying how one can work, one held meetings with the direction for saying what does not go, how one can improve the things. There was the humanistic respect in the companies at the time, the owners were humanistic owners, which is not the case today [...]

F.E : And did May 68, what that represent for you?

Luc: That represented a frustration not to be able to be expressed, to be feet and fist dependant between the hands of full people who decided the full one with things for us, with which one was not inevitably of agreement and with which one could not discuss.

Fabien: In 1968 I was in Grenoble and of the events of May 68 were much more interesting at the Political Institute of Studies, than in the economic science or Faculty of Law. I looked at where that appeared to me most interesting and I came to follow that here [the Political Institute of Studies of Grenoble]. I took part in a demonstration [...] At the beginning I favoured rather certain number of things, because one nevertheless had a need for a little oxygen. And then then I found that that took a little languid proportions. I remained on the level of the troops, of the infantrymen whom one could not immediately send either to any combat. I had to take part in two demonstrations [...] There was a small aspect psychodramatic which aggravated me, but on another side I found that was not badly to try to call into question a certain number of things and torpor. From this point of view, it was a movement which was to me relatively sympathetic nerve [...] The slogans were much more eccentric than those of Attac [...] Me I took that like an oxygen puff, that be a movement of hope. One believed during one moment, that one could revolt against a certain mediocrity. One is surrounded always a little by mediocrity. You do not have this impression, from time to time? You do not have the impression to choke sometimes? [...] That was the occasion to express... I would not say a certain dissatisfaction but rather to say that one exists [...] There was a pleasure not unhealthy but a little bit mischievous. Pleasure of realizing that one could make move the established order. I remember there were some who said «the trembling middle-class ! «, there were some who liked to make fear. There are people who were afraid. There was a feeling of fear, and the young people insofar as they felt that they propagated a certain movement of fear, there was a certain ludic aspect [...] Après in all the spheres where there was dissatisfaction, people expressed themselves [...] It was a little the fashion to be dissatisfied. Whereas before it more or less was supported. It became normal to express its dissatisfaction. I saw all that like a manner of expressing itself.

F.E : And why to have decided to adhere to Attac after so many years militant «sleep»?

Fabien: For me, that was an oxygen puff! There is nevertheless a rather strong single thought, even in economy. Even if it is less strong than a few years ago. There is also a certain fatalism. And with Attac, I found something of a little refreshing and then also, because as you said a few moments ago, another world is possible. In any case, another vision of the world, another design of the world is possible. One should not exaggerate, it is not to say that one will change the life, and even less the man. But to free very small little a certain form from economic tyranny.

F.E : It is strange, in connection with May 68, you used the same expression that in connection with Attac, you spoke about an oxygen puff...

Fabien : [...] What I call puffed out of oxygen, they are certain ways of thinking which are a little new. Something of a little innovating on the level of the thought, this dispute appeared more reasonable to me, more considered and in conformity with than I think. The Juppe plan I cannot put it in it because I do not agree. But the disputes like that of the Communist Party, it is not something which connects me much. I think that there are many automatisms, much of conditioned reflexes. Of the point of view of Attac, I think that it is a little new. I use the term «oxygenates», when I see something which is with counter-current. With counter-current... I was going to say to the good direction of the term... With counter-current but in a reflected way, not in a épidermique way.

* ³⁹² «  It is a whole generation of average layers which then acquires a certain vision of the world, a system of standards and values of which it will remain impregnated, in spite of the various evolutions. This new culture will be transmitted more or less consciously to the various generations  ». Goff (Jean-Pierre), May 68, the impossible heritage, Paris, ED the discovery, 1998, p. 20.

* ³⁹³ A leaflet of the committee isérois, diffused at the time of the conference of Susan George who took place on Grenoble the 13/11/2000, is entitled «  Utopia  », one can read there  : «  Utopia?, it is to dream, think, make that that is carried out. But some dream and apply a world which becomes a nightmare for the immense majority of the world. With us of it réapproprier. Utopia you sow will collect reality  !  ». One can also note that several articles of the diplomatic World appeared during the creation of Attac refer explicitly to the topic of the Utopia. Cf, Halimi (Serge), «  Our Utopia counters theirs  », The diplomatic World, May 1998, p. 14. Igniacio Ramonet, «  Need for Utopia  », The diplomatic World.

* ³⁹⁴ For example, a slogan like «  Another world is possible  » seems to us to raise of the same spirit as that of May 68.

* ³⁹⁵ Indeed, the movements claiming political ecology were non-violent groups, founded on user-friendliness and which aimed at an ecological awakening using a teaching work of explanation. The principal spring of the engagement of its groups was the reference to the citizenship. The similarities with Attac are very important as this leaflet testifies some to «  Paris ecologist  » published in 1978  : «  The ecologists are ordinary citizens that their life and their future belong to them. The policy is initially business of citizens  ». City in Goff (Jean-Pierre), op.cit, p. 388.

* ³⁹⁶ Among the different ones «  political sensitivities  », that to which the inquired Toulouse ones refer more is that of political ecology (45,5%). Cf, Marty (Thomas), op.cit, appendices, p. 12.

* ³⁹⁷ Ibid, p. 9.

* ³⁹⁸ Lionel carried out at the time its military service in Lybie. With its return, in 1970, it took part in demonstrations «  who were in the line of May 68. It was, adds T it, a little a revenge over May 68  ».

* ³⁹⁹ Freinet (1896-1966) was a French teacher who refused to practice a pedagogy that it regarded as too authoritative. It tried out an educational method «  active  » founded on the personality of the child and work in group. It created its own school which became an experimental school and which was used as model with several educational reforms. Cf, Rey (Alain) directed by, the Petit Robert of the Proper names, op.cit, p. 783.

* ⁴⁰⁰ Julie  : «  I came to Attac because one day in Marianne I saw a small paragraph on the agreement of the FRIEND. This article analyzed this agreement and there I said myself  : «  It is not possible, it is not possible that one lets make a similar trick!  » I believe that that be my catch. One month after there was the creation of Attac and I said myself Attac it is what I need [...] I said oneself it is not possible that the governments let do that «.