A comparative study of French and American political and social systems, utilizing the comparative approach advanced by Alexis de Tocqueville. This study compares institutions, social structures, and political issues which impact public policies, in order to get beyond clichés and common errors, and to explore common affinities as well as profound differences. The traits of each system, explanations for their differences, and the impact of historical, cultural, economic and institutional factors on these are all explored. Texts include readings of classic (de Tocqueville) and contemporary authors (D. Lacorne, E.Fassin, R. Knox, etc.), selected periodical readings, scientific articles, and audio-visual presentations. The course examines themes as diverse as the American and French Revolutions, the form and role of the State in France and the USA, American and French understanding of democracy, citizenship and immigration, relations between “races” and “classes,” and finally the forms and roots of anti-Americanism in France and the American perception of the French “exception.”
Method of presentation:
Lecture and discussion
LANGUAGE OF PRESENTATION: French
Required work and form of assessment:
Readings, presentation and discussion, essay, mid-term and final examinations. Attendance and class participation are required.
content:
1: General Introduction. Franco-American cultural representations.
Subject and goals of the course. American perception of France and the French perception of the United States in relation to their political and social systems.
Readings: Journal La Croix « le rêve américain n’est pas français », 30 octobre 2000 ; Pierre Bourdieu,
« L’imposition du modèle américain et ses effets », in Contre-feux 2, Liber, 2001.
2: Comparing political systems, methods and concerns.
Why compare? What and how to compare? Difficulties in comparing. Explicative variables.
Readings: B. Badie, G. Hermet, Politique comparée, PUF, 1990 ; M.I. Lichbach, A. Zuckerman, Comparative politics, Cambridge University Press, 1997.
3: Two concurrent political “models?” The American Revolution, The French Revolution, and cultural politics.
In what way can we talk of the two political “models?” What do they consist of? Are they in competition with one another? If yes, why? American and French Revolutions as examples.
Lecture: What meaning can we give to the American and French “models?”
Bibliographie : S. Hoffman, « Deux universalismes en conflit », Revue Tocqueville, vol. 21, n°1, 2000 ; R. Debray, « République ou Démocratie », in Contretemps, Gallimard, 1992 ; D. Lacorne, L’invention de la république, le modèle américain, Hachette, 1991 (notamment l’introduction) ; A.Clément, « Les Etats-Unis et la France : révolution contre révolution », Le Débat, n°1, mai 1980 ; P. Raynaud, « Révolution française et révolution américaine », in F. Furet, L’héritage de la révolution française, Hachette, 1989.
4: Political institutions and current ideologies: The State, democracy and separation of power.
French and American Revolutions. The constitutions. French and American political regimes: form of the state and form of the government. Their evolution. Their effects on political life.
Lecture: Differences and similarities between French and American political regimes.
Reading: les Constitutions françaises et américaines ; P. Raynaud, « L’idée républicaine et le fédéralisme », in
M. Ozouf, Le siècle de l’avènement républicain, Gallimard, 1991 ; P. Birnbaum, Sociologie de l’Etat, Hachette,
1979 (pp. 173-188, 203-210) ; V. Schmidt : « France between Etatiste tradition and the American federalist model », Revue Tocqueville, vol XXI n°1-2000. ;
5: Political parites, interest groups social divisions in France and in the U.S.
Legitimacy of political parties and special interest groups in France and in the U.S. Their historical development. Social and ideological dividing lines.
Lecture: Why is there no socialism in the U.S.A.?
Reading: Y. Mény, Politique comparée, Montchrestien, 1996 (p. 23-144) ; B. Manin, « Les deux libéralismes, la règle et la balance », in Coll. La famille, la loi, l’Etat ; J. Heffer, J. Rovet, Pourquoi n’y a-t-il pas de socialisme aux Etats-Unis ?, Ed. EHESS, 1988.
6: The state facing social questions in France and the U.S.
« Etat-providence » and « Welfare State ». Their development in France and the U.S. from the 19th century. Conceptions of poverty in France and the U.S. New social policies: insertion and « workfare ».
Lecture: Policies fighting poverty in the U.S. and France.
Reading: F.X.Merrien, L’Etat-providence, Que Sais-je ?, 1997 ; T. Skocpol, Social policy in the United States, Princeton University Press, 1995 ; F.X Merrien, Face à la pauvreté, Ed de l’Atelier,1994 ; N. Fraser, L.Gordon,
« A genealogy of dependency », Signs, 19, 1994 ; S. Morel, Les logiques de la réciprocité, PUF, 1999.
7: Citizenship and Integration in France and the U.S.
Two models of citizenship? The multicultural model and the republican model. The issue of religion, ethnicity and immigration in France and the U.S.
Lecture: The issues surrounding the Islamic headscarf in France.
Reading: Y.Déloye, chap. « Citoyenneté et identité nationales », in Sociologie historique du politique, La Découverte, 1997 ; J. Jennings, « Citizenship, republicanism and multiculturalism in contemporary France », BJPS, vol 30, n°4, 2000-10 ; D. Lacorne, La crise de l’identité américaine, du melting pot au multiculturalisme, Fayard, 1997 ; Le Débat, n° 97, 1997 ; G. Noiriel et D.L. Horowitz: Immigrants in two democracies : French and American experience, New York University Press, 1992.
8: Politics of Minorities
The “affirmative action” and “discrimination positive” policies. The struggle against gender, sexual orientation and racial discrimination.
Lecture: Affirmative Action and discrimination positive. Are they comparable?
Reading: « Les politiques de discrimination positive », Problèmes politiques et sociaux, n°822, 4 juin 1999 ; E. Fassin : « Dans les genres différents : le féminisme au miroir transatlantique », Esprit 196, Novembre 1993 ; E.
Fassin : Le gai miroir. Politique comparée du mariage homosexuel, à paraître, 2001.
9: The United States in French political and intellectual life- Model or anti-model
Forms of Anti-Americanism in France.
LEcture: In what way has anti-Americanism in France become a misunderstanding?
Reading : D. Lacorne, J. Rupnik, M.F. Toinet, L’Amérique dans les têtes, un siècle de fascinations et d’aversions, Hachette, 1986 ; E. Fassin, « « Good cop, bad cop » , The american model and countermodel in french liberal rhetoric since the 80’s », in Lawrence D.Kritzman (ed.), Columbia History of 20th century french thought, Cambridge University Press ; E. Fassin : « Political correctness en vo et en version française. Un malentendu révélateur », XXème siècle, 43, Juillet-septembre 1994 ; J.P. Mathy : French resistance, the french-american culture wars, U. Of Minnesota Press, 2000.
10: “Americanization”: Fantasies and Realities
Can we consider “Americanization” part of French political life? If yes, what significance is it given? What ways has American influence been borrowed in French political life ?
Lecture: Is there an Americanization of French political life?
Readings: P. Bourdieu, op.cit. ; Richard Kuisel, Seducing the french, the dilemna of americanization. Berkeley, Uof California Press, 1993 ; Raymonde Carroll, Cultural misunderstandings : the french-american experience, U. of Chicago Press, 1990 ; L. Tournès : L’américanisation de la culture française, in Historiens et géographes,
1997- 09/10, n°358 ; J.P.Mathy, op.cit.
12: Conclusion
Required readings:
As stated above. Additional readings from authors such as Alistaire Cole and JP Durand.
In addition, periodical such as Esprit, Le Débat, Les Temps Modernes, Collection « Problèmes politiques et sociaux » de la Documentation Française, Le Monde Diplomatique will be required.
A comparative study of French and American political and social systems, utilizing the comparative approach advanced by Alexis de Tocqueville. This study compares institutions, social structures, and political issues which impact public policies, in order to get beyond clichés and common errors, and to explore common affinities as well as profound differences. The traits of each system, explanations for their differences, and the impact of historical, cultural, economic and institutional factors on these are all explored. Texts include readings of classic (de Tocqueville) and contemporary authors (D. Lacorne, E.Fassin, R. Knox, etc.), selected periodical readings, scientific articles, and audio-visual presentations. The course examines themes as diverse as the American and French Revolutions, the form and role of the State in France and the USA, American and French understanding of democracy, citizenship and immigration, relations between “races” and “classes,” and finally the forms and roots of anti-Americanism in France and the American perception of the French “exception.”
Lecture and discussion
LANGUAGE OF PRESENTATION: French
Readings, presentation and discussion, essay, mid-term and final examinations. Attendance and class participation are required.
1: General Introduction. Franco-American cultural representations.
Subject and goals of the course. American perception of France and the French perception of the United States in relation to their political and social systems.
Readings: Journal La Croix « le rêve américain n’est pas français », 30 octobre 2000 ; Pierre Bourdieu,
« L’imposition du modèle américain et ses effets », in Contre-feux 2, Liber, 2001.
2: Comparing political systems, methods and concerns.
Why compare? What and how to compare? Difficulties in comparing. Explicative variables.
Readings: B. Badie, G. Hermet, Politique comparée, PUF, 1990 ; M.I. Lichbach, A. Zuckerman, Comparative politics, Cambridge University Press, 1997.
3: Two concurrent political “models?” The American Revolution, The French Revolution, and cultural politics.
In what way can we talk of the two political “models?” What do they consist of? Are they in competition with one another? If yes, why? American and French Revolutions as examples.
Lecture: What meaning can we give to the American and French “models?”
Bibliographie : S. Hoffman, « Deux universalismes en conflit », Revue Tocqueville, vol. 21, n°1, 2000 ; R. Debray, « République ou Démocratie », in Contretemps, Gallimard, 1992 ; D. Lacorne, L’invention de la république, le modèle américain, Hachette, 1991 (notamment l’introduction) ; A.Clément, « Les Etats-Unis et la France : révolution contre révolution », Le Débat, n°1, mai 1980 ; P. Raynaud, « Révolution française et révolution américaine », in F. Furet, L’héritage de la révolution française, Hachette, 1989.
4: Political institutions and current ideologies: The State, democracy and separation of power.
French and American Revolutions. The constitutions. French and American political regimes: form of the state and form of the government. Their evolution. Their effects on political life.
Lecture: Differences and similarities between French and American political regimes.
Reading: les Constitutions françaises et américaines ; P. Raynaud, « L’idée républicaine et le fédéralisme », in
M. Ozouf, Le siècle de l’avènement républicain, Gallimard, 1991 ; P. Birnbaum, Sociologie de l’Etat, Hachette,
1979 (pp. 173-188, 203-210) ; V. Schmidt : « France between Etatiste tradition and the American federalist model », Revue Tocqueville, vol XXI n°1-2000. ;
5: Political parites, interest groups social divisions in France and in the U.S.
Legitimacy of political parties and special interest groups in France and in the U.S. Their historical development. Social and ideological dividing lines.
Lecture: Why is there no socialism in the U.S.A.?
Reading: Y. Mény, Politique comparée, Montchrestien, 1996 (p. 23-144) ; B. Manin, « Les deux libéralismes, la règle et la balance », in Coll. La famille, la loi, l’Etat ; J. Heffer, J. Rovet, Pourquoi n’y a-t-il pas de socialisme aux Etats-Unis ?, Ed. EHESS, 1988.
6: The state facing social questions in France and the U.S.
« Etat-providence » and « Welfare State ». Their development in France and the U.S. from the 19th century. Conceptions of poverty in France and the U.S. New social policies: insertion and « workfare ».
Lecture: Policies fighting poverty in the U.S. and France.
Reading: F.X.Merrien, L’Etat-providence, Que Sais-je ?, 1997 ; T. Skocpol, Social policy in the United States, Princeton University Press, 1995 ; F.X Merrien, Face à la pauvreté, Ed de l’Atelier,1994 ; N. Fraser, L.Gordon,
« A genealogy of dependency », Signs, 19, 1994 ; S. Morel, Les logiques de la réciprocité, PUF, 1999.
7: Citizenship and Integration in France and the U.S.
Two models of citizenship? The multicultural model and the republican model. The issue of religion, ethnicity and immigration in France and the U.S.
Lecture: The issues surrounding the Islamic headscarf in France.
Reading: Y.Déloye, chap. « Citoyenneté et identité nationales », in Sociologie historique du politique, La Découverte, 1997 ; J. Jennings, « Citizenship, republicanism and multiculturalism in contemporary France », BJPS, vol 30, n°4, 2000-10 ; D. Lacorne, La crise de l’identité américaine, du melting pot au multiculturalisme, Fayard, 1997 ; Le Débat, n° 97, 1997 ; G. Noiriel et D.L. Horowitz: Immigrants in two democracies : French and American experience, New York University Press, 1992.
8: Politics of Minorities
The “affirmative action” and “discrimination positive” policies. The struggle against gender, sexual orientation and racial discrimination.
Lecture: Affirmative Action and discrimination positive. Are they comparable?
Reading: « Les politiques de discrimination positive », Problèmes politiques et sociaux, n°822, 4 juin 1999 ; E. Fassin : « Dans les genres différents : le féminisme au miroir transatlantique », Esprit 196, Novembre 1993 ; E.
Fassin : Le gai miroir. Politique comparée du mariage homosexuel, à paraître, 2001.
9: The United States in French political and intellectual life- Model or anti-model
Forms of Anti-Americanism in France.
LEcture: In what way has anti-Americanism in France become a misunderstanding?
Reading : D. Lacorne, J. Rupnik, M.F. Toinet, L’Amérique dans les têtes, un siècle de fascinations et d’aversions, Hachette, 1986 ; E. Fassin, « « Good cop, bad cop » , The american model and countermodel in french liberal rhetoric since the 80’s », in Lawrence D.Kritzman (ed.), Columbia History of 20th century french thought, Cambridge University Press ; E. Fassin : « Political correctness en vo et en version française. Un malentendu révélateur », XXème siècle, 43, Juillet-septembre 1994 ; J.P. Mathy : French resistance, the french-american culture wars, U. Of Minnesota Press, 2000.
10: “Americanization”: Fantasies and Realities
Can we consider “Americanization” part of French political life? If yes, what significance is it given? What ways has American influence been borrowed in French political life ?
Lecture: Is there an Americanization of French political life?
Readings: P. Bourdieu, op.cit. ; Richard Kuisel, Seducing the french, the dilemna of americanization. Berkeley, Uof California Press, 1993 ; Raymonde Carroll, Cultural misunderstandings : the french-american experience, U. of Chicago Press, 1990 ; L. Tournès : L’américanisation de la culture française, in Historiens et géographes,
1997- 09/10, n°358 ; J.P.Mathy, op.cit.
12: Conclusion
As stated above. Additional readings from authors such as Alistaire Cole and JP Durand.
In addition, periodical such as Esprit, Le Débat, Les Temps Modernes, Collection « Problèmes politiques et sociaux » de la Documentation Française, Le Monde Diplomatique will be required.