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

2.1.3.3 The inscription in a network of sociability

The constitution of human groupings, as recalled by George Simmel, is explained by a community of interests, on the other hand the individuals withdraw from it a benefit by the socialization from which they profit^438(*). This remuneration is all the more important as the interests of the militants are less. The political parties, where the mobilizations are carried out mainly in favor of a minority of professionals, always constituted besides of the important executives of sociability^439(*). The political clubs, as Loïc Blondiaux notes it, exerted this role at the beginning of the 20th century. They constituted places of « organized sociabilities » where the meeting constituted a value in oneself.^440(*) However, the political parties fulfill this function in a less way since the beginning of the Eighties^441(*). Associations thus replaced them.

The local committee isérois constitutes, like any human grouping, a framework of sociability. For Laurent, the possibility of meeting new people took part in her engagement. It sees the exchanges which it maintains with the other militants like enriching experiments. It evokes, for example, the day of May 1 during which the militants of Attac had held a stand. Environment had appeared convivial to him, which justified it in its engagement^442(*). The same phenomenon also takes place in the group « campus ». Isabelle recognizes that many young people attend the meetings in order to make knowledge with other students.

However this sociability is not only « spontaneous ». She is also held at the time of demonstrations organized by the committee. For example, one weekend « of popular education » place at the Blue Hour in September 2000 had had. In addition to the conferences, of the moments of user-friendliness had been organized, such as a meal or of the stage performances and musical. The refreshment bar had also been the place of many discussions. This demonstration, as Lionel explains it, was an unhoped-for success near the militants who decided to renew the event in 2001. In the same way, at the time of the Plenary assembly which will take place the 6octobre 2001, the turnover decided to organize one evening in mountain (Gresses in Vercors, Isere). These moments of user-friendliness are also carried out during the militant mobilizations. It was the case for example, like describes it Lionel, at the time of the Summit of Geneva in June 2000. The mobilizations of Nice or Genoa also made it possible to the militants to share certain common experiments. Each one of these events, even most negligible, takes part in the development of a common associative memory. That Ci constitutes the base of the future mobilizations. Like notes it Daniel Gaxie, the participation in association believes with the feeling of integration in the militant grouping. Contrary exclusion to this network of sociability allows to account for the withdrawal of association. The defection would correspond then to a lack of gratifications symbolic systems.

Laurent : It is not the effectiveness which one takes into account but it is the need to try to diffuse its perception and design, and then there is the pleasure of the meeting of the dialog, user-friendliness, sociability and all that makes that in a movement people find themselves [...] The militancy it is really of the fun, me when I go there that amuses me much, it is funny. Me I have a very romantic prospect because I never saw that and I do not know and I discover and it is very funny to see these people who organize themselves, when leaflets were made, one was ten. It was very convivial, it was sympathetic nerve. That laughs, that known as of the jokes. When cakes were sold, it was funny also [...] I meet people who are interesting and whom I would not have to meet elsewhere. Thus already it is the fact of the meeting. There are always an enrichment and an exchange. It is that which I like. And when that does not bring anything any more to me, I would leave [...]I like that to cross people, to discuss with them, there is an environment as opposed to what one could think much less centered on Attac and for the moment I like that in terms of human reports/ratios.

Isabelle : And the fact that there is an antenna campus, that makes it possible to be gravitational for other young people. Because there are some who come for the ideas and then there are some who are there to meet people, as in any movement, to meet different people, who make other studies... It is always interesting!

F.E : You can speak to me about the Blue Hour...

Lionel : Yes, it was one moment of very successful user-friendliness! During two not-stop days that turned to full mode with songs, theater, a barrel organ in order to express our dispute on another register. There was a meal the evening also which was organized. As much from people often do not come to association, it is one very cordial moment and very federator. Moreover they decided to organize another in 2001 of them whereas it was not envisaged at the beginning [...] I went last June to Geneva, it was at the time of the social forum of the world Organization of the trade after Seattle. Every ten years ago of them. That lasted one day and it was not too far. There are two buses which had been rented with the country Confederation and other associations. I had found that it is sympathetic nerve, there was even which had brought the wine and sausage. That had touched me much !

The committee Attac Isere would thus testify to an important internal sociability. However this report seems to go contrary to the evolution of the relationship between the private life and the militant life which Jacques Ion observes^443(*). « us » to which the militants refer and who constitute their identity would be weakened more and more following the changes of method of the associative participation. The autonomisation of the individual would involve the redefinition of engagement. The Community membership of association would tend to be reduced while engagement would be more and more « distancié »^444(*). The observations made by Jacques Ion give an account of several characteristics of the local committee. First of all, the valorization of the individual, concomitant of the weakening of « us » a valorization of the resources (authorized capital, professional) personal implies. One can observe that within the committee competences of each militant are made profitable^445(*). For example, Alda, which are a professor of economy takes care of the training of the militants, Odette, which is an accountant, manage the treasury of association. Lastly, Christelle who is semi-professional of theater is occupied of animations of the Blue Hour. The relations of each individual are also made profitable for the hiring of room or the pulling of leaflets. Moreover, the majority of surveyed (Fabien, Julie, Laurent, Lionel, Isabelle) are in a distancié engagement thanks to which they preserve their liberty of action. For example, it would seem that Lionel refuses to be implied in its engagement in order to be able to release itself some when it wishes it. Whereas mode of engagement within committee seems to correspond to assumptions of Jacques Ion (a valorization of the individual which adopts a distancié engagement), it « us » remains a strong entity in association. How to explain this paradox ?

Jacques Ion explains that the presence of one « us » strongly structured within an association in which engagement appears more flexible and less constraining the resurgence translates of « identity niches »^446(*). These niches are small groupings equipped with a strong cohesion where part of the members try to perpetuate a traditional operation. The militants would preserve a sociability there interns strong (one « us private ») from which would be excluded the the least implied members. It would seem, that such a grouping exists within the committee isérois. A small number of militants would form one « identity niche »^447(*). These militants maintain the personal relations which exceed the framework of association. Moreover, they occupy the main part of the functions of representation and direction within the committee. Lastly, they present strong générationnelles similarities. This « us private » excluded obviously the remainder from the members of the committee. That explains, according to the idea of Daniel Gaxie, the defection of certain members. The participation in the committee is made all the more difficult for those located outside the grouping^448(*). For example, Cécile explains that it difficult to militate within the committee without taking part in one of the ' think tanks '.

Lionel : I am careful in my engagement. Before there were four essential groups, a group on the economic questions, a group of interpellation of the elected officials, a group of animation of the activities and a group of information and diffusion. Even the economy group was often directed towards the action. It is true that now, it is more tempting the way in which it is organized. That does not require an implication of me on the long term. To belong to a group that wanted to say to have to take part at least during a year. Because for me engagement it is a risk and if me I engage it is something of important. It is for that which I give only what I feel to be able to give [...] We speak little about our personal or professional life between us. Very little. With share with some people with long. But it is not what gathers us, what gathers us is completely other thing and thus it is not necessary to wonder that [...] I know little people and I do not attend them apart from the meetings. There are sometimes pots which are organized after the meetings but I do not remain a long time and I often eclipse, once the job is finished... But there are some who are seen apart from the meetings. I do not leave opportunities to that and if it were proposed to me, I would say not!

Lionel : There are those which know each other better, those which belong to the group, for example in the economy group from time to time they meet at one or the other. Thus there is a more personal knowledge.

Cecile : It is very difficult to militate when you are not affiliated with a group or that you do not have a means of having a a little regular activity, it is very difficult to be simple member, to come to the meetings and to manage to make concrete things. In the meetings, there are enormously people, then the discussions in depth cannot take place and the activity is undertaken by the members of the A.C. and people who are in the groups (example: the information group, the economy group). The groups are integrated into the activity of Attac.

The comprehension of the engagement of the militants isérois is complex. On the one hand, it is connected upon a traditional engagement whose forms are known (a on-representation of the middle class and employees of the public office, a strong générationnelle homogeneity, the defense of material and catégoriels interests and finally a strong internal sociability). In addition, it presents many common points with the social movements which took place recently (reference to the citizenship, defense of values post-materialists, valorization of the individuals within engagement). The engagement of the militants of Attac Isere thus seems to be between two ages. This contradiction appears all the more strong at the militants (they reproduce for example processes of organization which raise of the old trade-union structures and policies) that at the members. Must one conclude from it in so far as the militancy within the committee isérois concerns the past ? With which militancy the forms of mobilization are attached which are with work within Attac ?

* ⁴³⁸ «  If human beings meet in economic groupings or family clans, association or confraternity of blood, there it is necessary to see there surely the consequence of needs and special interests. However, across these particular contents, all these socializations are accompanied by the clean feeling and the satisfaction which it gets owing to the fact that one is precisely socialized, have regard to the value of the formation of a company like such  ». Simmel (George), Sociology and epistemology, PUF, 1981, p. 124. City in Blondiaux (Loïc), «  Political clubs  », Politix, 02/1988, p. 42

* ⁴³⁹ For example, Mosci Ostrogorski which analyzed the evolution of the English organizations political during the 19th century, observes that following the widening of the vote, Caucus extended political propaganda to the popular classes by the means of evenings and entertainments intended for «  to create an association of feelings between those which are invited to divide them and political parties  ». Ostrogorski (Mosci), the political democracy and parties  , ED Beech, 1993, 2nd ED, 1912, p. 239.

* ⁴⁴⁰ Op.cit, Blondiaux (Loïc), p. 39.

* ⁴⁴¹ Mehl (Domenica), «  Culture and associative action  »  », Sociology of work, n°1, 01/1982, p. 26.

* ⁴⁴² The discussion with Laurent took place the 2/05/2001, that is to say the shortly after the mobilization to which it refers. In addition, it was about the first action of the committee in which he took part.

* ⁴⁴³ Ion (Jacques), op.cit, pp. 60-64.

* ⁴⁴⁴ «  In distancié engagement, it is the singular person who is implied, even raised. The mobilization does not mean renouncement of oneself there, quite to the contrary. But this personal implication is always detailed, and thus supposes constantly its potential suspension. Engagement of oneself goes always then with reversible engagement  ». Ibid, p. 83.

* ⁴⁴⁵ The report of the commission «  Internal and external formation  » of the committee isérois noted among the proposals  who were formulated at the time of AG: «  To count all competences of the members and to call upon them on precise topics  » .Attac Isere, management Report 2001, p. 8.

* ⁴⁴⁶ «  The evolution is not rectilinear and there is not substitution of a model for another. The figure of the traditional militant can thus find with the center even new forms [...]It is to say that the broad movement of weakening of us located previously must also be measured with the ell of these strong resurgences [...] It is to also say that one could not read the evolution according to on a single axis, definitively directed. If we are convinced that the prospect member is well taking the step on the Community prospect, one would not know for as much eliminating from the analysis of the contemporary associative fact any dimension of sociability  ». Ibid, p. 92.

* ⁴⁴⁷ Although it is delicate to precisely determine the size of this grouping, it would seem that he is composed of a score of individuals. However, it is possible to distinguish within that Ci one second niche in which sociability interns would be marked even. This second grouping would consist of five or six individuals.

* ⁴⁴⁸ Adherent explained us the difficulties which it met to be integrated into the committee isérois.