Tentatives de compréhension des mouvements sociaux

The question is “How to understand the structuring of social movements in general and altermondialism in particular?”. Detailing his previous research and his distancing from the classical sociology of conflict, the author dwells on the necessity of creating heuristic models making for an explanation of the tense relations between rationalisation and self affirmation. These models, distancing themselves from their “mobilisation of resources” counterparts, should help fathom how culture is the key to a redefinition of politics and economics. They imply too analysis of the conditions favouring the emergence of collective action and the communicatory flow concerned, thus fostering a deeper understanding of the importance of self affirmation and culture in the building up of altermondialism.