AFSP 2024 : La France est-elle encore une démocratie ?

Summary

Frédéric Gontier, a political science professor, explores the relationship between individual belief systems and party ideologies. He will lead a semi-plenary at a congress titled 'Are We Still in Democracy?', addressing the perceived crisis in electoral democracy and representation. Gontier critiques the narrative of democratic fatigue, highlighting the controversy surrounding the concept of democracy itself and the resilience demonstrated through grassroots movements and youth mobilization. The session aims to bring together experts to debate this narrative and emphasize Grenoble's significant scientific contributions beyond its culinary and climate reputation.

Takeaways

• 📚 Frédéric Gontier is a political science professor at Sciences Po Grenoble, focusing on the relationship between value systems and political parties.
• 🤔 He questions how individuals organize their political beliefs and how this relates to political competition and party ideologies.
• 🗳️ Gontier will lead a seminar titled 'Are We Still in Democracy?' at a congress, addressing the crisis of electoral democracy and representation.
• 🔍 The seminar aims to explore the narrative of democratic fatigue and its implications for contemporary politics.
• ⚖️ He emphasizes that democracy is a complex concept with various interpretations and practices.
• 🚫 The narrative of democratic fatigue often suggests a decline in democratic values and a rise in authoritarian alternatives, which he finds empirically debatable.
• 🌱 Gontier highlights the vitality of grassroots democratic movements, such as recent social movements and youth mobilizations.
• 🤝 There is a strong desire among citizens to be more involved in collective decision-making processes.
• 🌍 The seminar will feature six national and international experts discussing different aspects of the democratic narrative.
• 🏛️ Gontier aims to showcase Grenoble's strong scientific dynamics, emphasizing its contributions to international research on electoral surveys and governance.

Q & A

Who is Frédéric Gontier?

Frédéric Gontier is a professor of political science at Sciences Po Grenoble and is affiliated with the governance team of UMR Pact.

What are Frédéric Gontier's research interests?

His research focuses on the links between value systems and party systems, particularly how individuals organize their political beliefs in relation to how parties organize ideas and political competition.

What is the theme of the semi-plenary session that Frédéric Gontier will lead?

The theme is 'Are we still in a democracy?' which will examine the crisis in electoral democracy and representation.

What is the starting point of the semi-plenary discussion?

The starting point is the observation of a crisis in electoral democracy, which is often described through the narrative of democratic fatigue.

Why does Frédéric Gontier find the narrative of democratic fatigue debatable?

He argues that democracy is a controversial concept with various interpretations, and the narrative of fatigue often suggests a decline in democratic values and a rise in authoritarian alternatives, which he finds empirically disputable.

What evidence does Gontier provide to counter the narrative of democratic fatigue?

He points to the recent vitality of grassroots democratic movements, such as social movements and youth mobilization, indicating a strong desire among citizens to engage more closely in collective decision-making.

What is the goal of the semi-plenary session?

The goal is to bring together six national and international experts to debate and explore various aspects of the narrative of democratic fatigue and to juxtapose it with alternative perspectives on democratic consolidation.

What does Gontier hope to demonstrate during the congress?

He hopes to show that Grenoble is not only recognized for its culinary and climatic signature but also as a significant scientific site with strong international dynamics related to electoral surveys and the reconfiguration of the relationship between governors and the governed.

What is the significance of grassroots movements according to Gontier?

Gontier believes that grassroots movements indicate a robust engagement with democratic processes and reflect citizens' strong desire for involvement in public decision-making.

How does Frédéric Gontier define democracy?

Gontier suggests that democracy encompasses multiple ways of practice, emphasizing that it cannot be defined uniformly, which contributes to its complexity and the debate surrounding it.