Roman VAREILLES
Academic background
2023-2026– Scientific Coordinator of the Montpellier Discrimination Observatory, Paul-Valéry University of Montpellier.
2023 – PhD Political Science, CEPEL Laboratory, University of Montpellier.
2016 – Master's degree in Comparative Politics and Public Policy, University of Montpellier.
2014 – Bachelor's degree in Political Science, University of Montpellier.
2013 – Bachelor's degree in Sociology, Paul-Valéry University of Montpellier.
2013 – Bachelor's degree in History, International Relations, and Social Sciences, Paul-Valéry University of Montpellier
Thesis
Fragmented anti-racism. Postcolonial mobilizations against racism in France.
Edited byEric Savarese.
This thesis focuses on the strategic differences that run through postcolonial mobilizations against racism. From a sociological perspective on collective action, it examines the use of colonial and racial references as a means of mobilization in the fight against racism in France. By comparing the discourses and repertoires of action deployed by three groups active between 1995 and 2022, this work, based on field observation, biographical interviews, and archival research, questions the polarization of postcolonial anti-racism between two typical models of intervention: theory and practice. Based on the notion of space, we see that the orientation towards a post/decolonial framework has an impact on the choice of modes of action and on the constitution of activist groups. These internal dynamics are reflected in an evolution of the links between the anti-racist space and the political field and give rise to attempts to overcome the boundaries that separate them.
Current research projects
2026 – "Discrimination linked to poverty and empowerment." Led by the Montpellier Discrimination Observatory and DEETS Occitanie, this project aims to examine the concept of poverty-related discrimination and analyze the effects of three public policy measures on the trajectories of beneficiaries (Zero Non-Take-Up Territory, Zero Long-Term Unemployment Territory, Common Food Fund).
2026-2027 – "Social intervention and single-parent families. " As part of the research program "Transformations in social intervention and social work" supported by DREES, INTS-DGCS, and CNAF, this project focuses on the discrimination experienced by single-parent families and the tensions between the principle of universality and adaptation to single-parent families. It is being conducted alongside Auréline Cardoso, PhD in Sociology at the University of Toulouse Jean Jaurès, and Matthijs Gardenier, Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Montpellier Paul-Valéry.
Publications
"The Algerian War, the Left, and Anti-Racism: Vectors of Politicization in Colonial Memories," Cahiers Mémoire et politique, issue 10, 2026 (forthcoming).
"Entrepreneurship in Montpellier's priority neighborhoods: between entry costs and discrimination," study report, Montpellier Discrimination Observatory, November 2025.
"Producing localized data to support local authorities. Review of the work of the Montpellier Discrimination Observatory," Gardenier Matthijs, Vareilles Roman, Les cahiers de la Lutte Contre les Discriminations, 22, March 2026 (forthcoming).
"Local observatories against discrimination: a joint interview with Nantes Métropole and Montpellier," Gardernier Matthijs, Rigollier Philippe, Vareilles Roman, Les Cahiers de la Lutte Contre les Discriminations, 20(1), 97-102, 2025.
"Understanding the difficulties women in priority neighborhoods in Montpellier face in accessing employment: invisible work, mobility, and discrimination," research report, Montpellier Discrimination Observatory, September 2024.
"Postcolonialism as a means of mobilization. Strategic divergences in anti-racism in France," Cultures & Conflits, vol. 127-128, no. 1-2, 2023, pp. 39-58.
"Uses and Effects of Colonial Reference in the Fight Against Racism," Open Library of Humanities6(2), 3, 2020.
"The social foundations of Algerian memories. The negative case of the Progressive Pieds-Noirs," Cahiers Mémoire et Politique, 05, 2018.
"Consent to Algerian independence among the pieds-noirs," Proceedings of the doctoral symposium, Montpellier Doctoral School of Law and Political Science, 2018.
Communications
"Producing localized data to support local authorities," Symposium on Combating Discrimination, University of Poitiers, November 2025.
"Collective reactions to the riots in the La Mosson neighborhood," International Symposium "When Neighborhoods Protest," ENS Paris, November 2025.
"The unspeakable nature of domestic violence in the context of majority/minority relations," Conference on "Social Work, Relationship Building," Paul Valéry University of Montpellier, November 2025.
"The work of women in working-class neighborhoods, or the intertwining of social relations of class, gender, and race. Male domination, territorial exclusion, and racial discrimination," Congress of the French Sociological Association, Jean Jaurès University, Toulouse, July 2025.
"The use of entrepreneurship in priority neighborhoods," study days organized by the Montpellier Discrimination Observatory, Paul-Valéry University of Montpellier, June 2025.
"Understanding inequalities in access to employment in priority neighborhoods in Montpellier: invisible work, discrimination, and mobility challenges," Study Days of the Montpellier Discrimination Observatory, Paul Valéry Montpellier University, June 25-26, 2024.
"Working-class neighborhoods and immigration: intersecting causes," Causimmi seminar, Condorcet Campus, May 24, 2024.
"Act 36: The Yellow Vests march for Adama. Conditions and effects of an unlikely coalition," National Congress of the French Political Science Association, Sciences Po Lille, July 6, 2022.
"Anti-racist space, strategic differences, and internal competition. The place of postcolonialism in the fight against racism in France," Doctoral workshop "Territorial inequalities and discrimination," Sciences Po Paris, June 16, 2022.
"Anti-racism, working-class neighborhoods, and labeling. Frontline movements: what courses of action against Islamophobia?" Symposium on "Islams and Immigration Struggles," Sciences Po Toulouse, January 11, 2021.
"Invoking or contesting citizenship. Strategic differences in anti-racism and struggles in working-class neighborhoods," Study Day "Renegotiating citizenship? Immigration and political mobilization for legality," Cepel Laboratory, University of Montpellier, May 16, 2019.
"Reform of school diversity and racial discrimination: from a consensual problematization to a conflictual territorial translation," Ratel Manon, Vareilles Roman, Symposium "Racism and racial discrimination, from school to university," Paris Diderot University, September 27-29, 2018.
"Racism through a postcolonial lens: sociogenesis of antiracist framing in France," Conference on "Media representations of Islam and Muslims," University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, June 19-20, 2018.