French Literature Reviews - 2026
A. Ogien, Politique de l'activisme. Essai sur les mouvements citoyens
History, Politics and Society
Politique de l'activisme. Essai sur les mouvements citoyens
PUF, 2021
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16 euros
224 p.
ISBN: 978-2-13-082990-4
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Summary:
This book proposes replacing the notion of "civil society" with that of "autonomous political practices," enabling us to capture the specific characteristics of grassroots initiatives launched by associations or collectives to address various aspects of a society's collective or political life. It first demonstrates how these practices fulfill a function of political socialization that social institutions are no longer able to provide. It then focuses on a particular subset of these practices: those that enter the political arena to play a role in governance. These practices constitute what is referred to here as grassroots activism. Drawing on the experiences of ordinary citizens exercising power, the book analyzes the legitimacy of this activism, distinguishes it from traditional partisan militancy, and shows how it is actively reshaping politics. It does so by fostering citizen vigilance regarding the conduct of those in power and by participating in local and national elections to help—however modestly—change the world.
Albert Ogien is Senior Research Fellow Emeritus at the CNRS. After analyzing deviance (Sociologie de la déviance, 2018), he turned his attention to the transformation of the political order through management techniques (L’Esprit gestionnaire, 1995; Désacraliser le chiffre, 2013). Together with Sandra Laugier, he has conducted research into the lived experience of democracy (Pourquoi désobéir en démocratie ?, 2010; Le Principe démocratie, 2014; Antidémocratie, 2017).
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Table of Contents:
Introduction
1. Farewell to Civil Society
The Endorsed, the Auxiliaries, and the Autonomous
The State within Society
The Adventures of Equality
Acting as a Citizen
The Promises of Democracy
2. The Legitimacy of the Street
Worlds of Practice
Taming Violence
Legitimacy and Social Order
Legitimacy and Domination
3. Activism and Militancy
Disobedience That Is Not Really Disobedience
The Inverted Figure of the Militant
4. What Depoliticization Means
A Matter of Context
New Sites of Political Socialization
Political Capacity Without Formal Training
From Party to Action
5. Citizens in Power
Analyzing a Success
Italy, Season 2
Birth of the Sardines
This Is Not a Party
Preparing to Exercise Power
6. Populism or Democracy
The Populist Argument
Must We Rescue the Concept of Populism?
7. Three Challenges for a Politics of Activism
Opinion Makers Have Lost Their Grip
Justice Against Equality
Staying on the Lookout
Conclusion: Waiting for the Revolution
Doing Everything Possible to Change the World
Albert Ogien’s study situates itself within contemporary political sociology, building on his previous collaborative research with Sandra Laugier in *Pourquoi désobéir en démocratie ?* and *Le Principe démocratie*. By challenging the traditional, often passive concept of civil society, Ogien introduces autonomous political practices to describe how ordinary citizens organize outside established party lines. This shift in terminology helps clarify how modern grassroots collectives bypass traditional institutions to foster political socialization and directly influence local governance.
The essay addresses crucial questions regarding the legitimacy of street activism, the distinction between traditional militancy and modern citizen engagement, and the rising challenge of populism. By examining real-world examples, such as the Sardines movement in Italy, the book offers valuable insights into how grassroots vigilance can reshape democratic governance. It is an essential read for students and scholars of political science, sociology, and contemporary philosophy, as well as activists seeking to understand the structural impact of their collective actions.