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

2.1.3 Remunerations of the militancy

The nature of engagement is complex because it is composed of several elements. The comprehension of engagement passes by a whole of references which are shared by the majority of the militants (the idea of citizenship, values of solidarity, equity). However, one cannot reduce engagement to his rhetoric. The motivations of engagement are more primarily in the benefit than the militants expect some. Material interests rise directly from the satisfaction of the claims. However, those Ci do not account for the distinction between the members and the militants.

This problem was formulated in 1966 by Mancur Olson. That Ci, on the basis of the postulate of the rationality of the actor, highlighted the logical obstacles at the collective action^426(*). While the collective action presupposes the participation of a maximum of individuals, it is in the interest of each individual not to join that Ci and to adopt the strategy of the free to wrinkle (« the free ticket »), i.e. to count on the action of the other members of the group to profit from the collective repercussions. Consequently one cannot confuse « individual rationality and collective rationality »^427(*). Better still, individual rationalities seem to go against collective rationality. Olson adds however that there are selective, positive incentives (rewards) or negative (sanctions), to the action. Daniel Gaxie, from the same point of view, highlighted the presence of remunerations (material, intellectual, symbolic systems) which are the only ones has to be able to account for the militancy^428(*). « He is doubtful, according to Daniel Gaxie, that the partisane activity is explained only by the will to defend a cause or more exactly, that this will is enough to support it, without the militancy not providing at the same time gratifications to those which are devoted to it »^429(*). Gaxie proposes the concept of « benefit not-collectives » which would be specific to the individual. On the ideological values certain remunerations would be superimposed^430(*). However, if inquired propose these « causes », it is because they « can acknowledg itself, nor to acknowledg the remunerations which they withdraw from their participation in the life of the organization »^431(*). Which benefit the militants withdraw of their participation ?

2.1.3.1 A formation directed towards the action

Initially, inquired affirm to await from their militancy a intellectual formation. One can attach this expectancy to the popular role of education that Attac wishes to occupy. The militants state to want to acquire within association an economic culture which, as recalled by Lionel, is often lacking to them. For example, Isabelle explains that what justified its engagement, it is above all, the desire to better include/understand the financial mechanisms. François awaited from his militancy an economic formation. It did not wish to learn from the abstract theories like those of Marx but from the concrete economic arguments. The militants thus seem to be petitioning of a reflection and an economic formation which is turned towards the action.

However, the search for a framework of reflection and action is not enough to account for the investment that some inquired grant to their militancy^432(*). Which remunerations wait of their implication ?

Lionel : I think that it [popular education] is turned towards two groups. First of all towards we because we need a formation such as for example in economy. Very few people in association have an economic formation.

François : And the fact of being with Attac that precisely gives me arguments, because often the militants of the PS oppose arguments, economic realism to us, great theories and Attac, what is interesting it is that that forms compared to that, not with the theory Marxist because I could recite the Capital very well, the theory of the appreciation but they are foutent some, they will treat me of utopian, not! While setting out again on clear bases and while setting out again on mechanisms of the economy today compared to the Tobin tax for example and to show that it is possible and their statement which there if there is not political good-will it to them is something of desired of their share, it is the political good-will which will make that the Tobin tax will settle they are not the mechanisms.

Isabelle : For me, it is above all to make meetings on topics so that people speak, say what they have desire for saying, can be listened and then learn from the things, quite simply! Because there is certain which has knowledge, for example there are several students in biology in Attac campus and they are more suited, from the biological point of view, to speak to us about the genetically modified Organizations, those which know more the political aspect can also speak to us about it... And then like that, one can be held informed and discuss ideas. It is sure that me, I await more that and I think that Attac it is more that [...] They [people] wait [...] to better include/understand how that functions. Attac that leaves a little that at the beginning, one is in a system of market and how réapproprier can, how that functions. Réapproprier a little these economic movements of capital and the operation of the economy today. It is us to make it possible to better understand, because it is true that one does not realize. Each one saw its small life and beside that, there are enormous sums which pass on one side to the other of the world and there are people who do not realize of the influence that the capital has, same on the States. Mainly it is what justified my adhesion.

* ⁴²⁶ Cf, Nephew (Erik), op.cit, p. 46.

* ⁴²⁷ Op.Cit., Fillieule (Oliveir), Péchu (Cecile), p. 82.

* ⁴²⁸ Gaxie (Daniel), «  Economy of the parties and remunerations of the militancy  », Re-examined French of Political Sciences, flight 27, n°1, fev 1977, pp. 123-154.

* ⁴²⁹ Ibid, p. 126.

* ⁴³⁰ «  Without denying that the ideological mobiles can be in certain cases a political factor of mobilization, one can expect that other incentives come to support them and to reinforce them and that those which devote their time and their energy to a party are remunerated in one way or another  ». Ibid, p. 128.

* ⁴³¹ Ibid, p. 129.

* ⁴³² One can for example quote Francois, Julie or Luc who as a president devote the major part of his time to association.