| Titre | Le patron et son cercle : clef de l'Université française | |
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| Auteur | Terry N. Clark, Priscilla P. Clark | |
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Revue | Revue Française de Sociologie |
| Numéro | 1971, 12-1 | |
| Page | 19-39 | |
| Résumé anglais |
Terry N. Clark and Priscilla P. Clark: The patron and his cluster: the key to the French university system.
This paper argues, in contrast to some accounts which have focused on individual chairs, that the key to the French system of higher education was the 'cluster'. Clusters comprised perhaps a dozen persons, mainly in provincial universities and research institutes, and normally one patron at the Sorbonne. They were integrated through publications, examinations, research funds, and especially influence which the patron could exercise over appointments. Subordination of cluster members to the patron was maintained by the principle of monopoly whereby the patron was left free to dominate his particular realm. Relationships among patrons in zerosum situations were regulated by a balance of exchange of favors. The stability of the system would often break down patrons retired. Succession to leadership by a younger cluster member could maintain continuity; or assumption of the central chair by the leader of a new cluster was often the means to institutionalize intellectual innovation. Potential cluster leaders would traditionally compete through completion of a theoretical and programmatic Doctorat d'Etat. Those seeking to join a cluster would link their narrower studies to the patron's program. The cluster pattern thus discouraged middle range theories. General cultural patterns of authority helped maintain the cluster, but were not sufficient. Comparison with Germany and the U.S. suggests that structural prerequisites to the cluster were a) centralization of control, b) the monopolistic character of the system with its absence of competition among institutions, c) the small number of central posts, and d) inflated status-sets of patrons. Source : Éditeur (via Persée) |
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| Article en ligne | http://www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/article/rfsoc_0035-2969_1971_num_12_1_1947 |
