Contenu du sommaire

Jean Stoetzel : Is it possible to carry out a survey on the social and humanistic sciences ? The last General Conference of Unesco, at the suggestion of the French delegation, adopted a resolution concerning a world survey of research trends in the social and humanistic sciences. Its promoters feel that the survey will widen the perspectives of a science which is still subservient to Western culture. The project will of necessity meet with difficulties, not only from those who believe that only one type of science exists (our own) but also from non-Westerners who feel that stress laid on traditional cultural elements will prevent social progress. The major difficulties arise from the insecure relations existing between societies representing different cultures. This critical stage must be overcome. The role of intermediary played by certain non-Western countries which are technically highly developed (Japan for instance) can be considerable.

Jacqueline Frisch-Gauthier : The role of the shop steward. This study is based on personal observations made by the author who worked for two years in a factory and was a shop steward. Shop stewards have a double role to play : first, to struggle for better conditions and higher wages ; secondly, to ensure that the various agreements reached are in effect carried out by the employers. The accent is placed on one or the other aspect in accordance with the methods of action available to the trade-unions. If such action takes the form of a struggle, the shop steward mainly bases his arguments on legislation. When the role is one of checking, the success of the demands is linked to the relations of power inside the firm and also to the policies of employers and workers which affect the conflict. If the shop steward chooses to contest the authority of the employer, all the trends in that direction on the part of the employees can be used by him for that purpose. In such a case his third function, which differs from the other two arises from the need to consolidate the unity of the workers' group, which is an essential condition of its power.