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Project 2021–2026
The new contractual phase coincides with a substantial change in scientific direction. It is largely the result of a success: the implementation of research programs in the humanities and social sciences in two areas of knowledge that we had envisaged as subjects for experimentation and innovation: health and the environment. It is fully justified by its alignment with a site-based scientific policy that supports these two areas among the three that are at the forefront of its strategy for excellence. Instead of three lines of research and two innovative clusters, the laboratory's new organization has opted for three thematic clusters: CEPEL-Health; CEPEL-Environment; CEPEL-Political Territories.Each of these three clusters is intended to be a lever for excellence in the laboratory's own research, but also a tool for scientific partnerships in Montpellier and at the national and international levels. The relatively modest size of the laboratory requires a certain flexibility in specializations and a duty to be open to the various levels of the scientific community. However, as we have indicated, this modesty remains a definite handicap in terms of the development opportunities that are opening up to us. This is why we consider this scientific project to be a call for renewed consideration by the two supervisory bodies in terms of recruitment, but also as a means of attracting new skills that are sensitive both to the themes chosen and to the good reception and working conditions that CEPEL has made its specialty. Nevertheless, an organization divided into three poles always runs the risk of compartmentalization. The numerous exchanges that preceded the development of this project show a shared desire for dialogue between the areas and the search for common challenges. On an individual level, this dialogue will be facilitated by the fact that many researchers belong to more than one area. It will also involve the new direction given to the laboratory's annual seminar. This seminar, relaunched and run by the doctoral student group under the supervision of the laboratory director, aims to identify themes or issues common to the three areas and to promote the approach in the form of scientific publications. The aim is not simply to view the seminar as a regular event, but also to give it a role in scientific development.
- Thematic area No. 1 – Health
- Thematic area No. 2 – Environment
- Thematic area No. 3 – Political territories
The philosophy behind CEPEL's new project is therefore based on three principles: specialization, partnership, and cross-disciplinary approach. Specialization stems from the expertise accumulated by the team and those who join it today. It forms the basis for the thematic clusters and their lines of research. Partnership (on-site, national, and international) stems from these orientations and corresponds to a modestly sized unit, but one at the crossroads of multiple academic, professional, and civic relationships. It also corresponds to the high degree of internationalization of activities. Finally, transversality stems from three processes. The first is the participation of a majority of researchers in several clusters or lines of research. The second is the vocation of the three clusters to bring out common questions, beyond their specific themes. The third is the implementation of the laboratory seminar, reconfigured to bring together all colleagues around common issues. During our preparatory discussions for this project, we identified five issues that could form the basis of CEPEL's common science: territory, participation, interdisciplinarity, comparativism, and innovation.
Scientific review 2014-2020
The themes of the CEPEL research project were a continuation of research already underway. Two major research questions were identified: the Transformation(s) of Democratic Governance and New Citizen Behaviors. The first was divided into three areas: Social and Political Actors; Sociology of the State and its Elites; Production of Public Action Standards. The second was structured around two areas: New Political Behaviors; and Politicization in Other Ways. In addition, the CEPEL project aimed to consolidate its openness to international comparison and develop two new Thematic Areas: Sustainable Development and Public Health. These foreshadowed the path consolidated by CEPEL in the new 2021-2025 contractual phase.
Consult the report and scientific output.