Contenu du sommaire : Violence privée et politique

Costabile, Antonio, Politics and Death : Social Phenomena and Analytical Categories Apparent convergences between deaths and social or political cohesion can be seen in daily life and in political theories. The study of this connection illustrates the content of certain illusions persisting in democratic societies. Max Weber's ideas concerning the state's monopoly over legitimate violence are useful in this regard

Siebert, Renate, Mafia and Antimafia Contrary to the idea that the mafia is a type of capitalist business enterprise, the mafia is central to the functioning of democratic polities. But new types of resistance to the mafia are emerging, especially on the part of women.

Namer, Gérard, Client Systems and Mafias The Italian example suggests that there is presently a convergence of economic and political client systems which has facilitated the success of the mafia. Such a situation may be emerging in France because of the weakness of democracy, the presence of existing client systems, capitalist deregulation and populist pressures.

Garnier, Jean-Pierre, "Urban Violence " and the Social Sciences : From Relativism to Negationism Since the beginning of the 1990s, what is often called "urban violence" has been a matter of journalistic concern. In light of this media attention, social scientists have attempted to theorize the subject differently, but with limited success. As a research theme, "urban violence " is presented as vital to the future of our cities and societies, but as a social phenomenon researchers tend to relativize its extent, its newness and its impact. This apparent paradox is logical in light of the ideological imperative that the theorization of a "social problem" must not call into question the nature of the society.

Peroni, Michel, Three Views Concerning Insecurity, Public Space and Personal Identity Analysis of an original document which juxtaposes three testimonies concerning the same incident allows an understanding of insecurity which is tempered by the difficulties of reconciling divergent perceptions. On the one hand, such testimony is an opportunity for the witness to rectify his or her actual responses in the situation. On the other hand, the testimony reveals the inaction which is implicit in witnessing.

Heuzé, Gérard, Politics, Delinquency and Popular Milieux in India Contemporary India is a democracy where client systems are centrally important. The rise of politically delinquent communities led by gangster- politicians who represent and dominate larger societies is a localized phenomenon of increasing importance. What are the characteristics and the meaning of such phenomena in the context of "developing" countries. The cases of the mining region of Damodar in the east of India and of the commercial and industrial metropole of of Dombay (Mumbai) are illustrative in this regard.

Bosserelle, Éric, Toward a global War ? For about the last fifteen years the question of the interactions between long economic cycles and war cycles has seemed to be of interest to a growing number of researches in the social sciences, especially in the United States. This article sets out the contents of the main existing theses and takes stock of the current state of the debate. Some elements of appreciation are outlined.

Durand Claude et Koléva Svetla, Putting Back in Service the Nuclear Reactor in Kozloduy (Bulgaria) The case of the Kozloduy reactor in Bulgaria shows the risks and difficulties associated with nuclear reactors of Russian origin. The assistance given by the French government's electrical utility monopoly, EDF, was impeded by its inability to impose decision-making authority.

Rivera, Annamaria, Nature and Culture The tendency to naturalize the social world dominates contemporary scientific discourse. This discourse cultivates a conception of nature that can be called "essentialist". In it, nature appears to be given a prescriptive role, and even a moral orientation. It is a conceptual orientation that results from a process of reification. The double process of the anthropomorphism of nature and the naturalization of society is instrumental in perpetuating the prevailing social order and in justifying economic liberalism.