Bouger la banlieue: l’intégration en question par Azouz Begag (review)

Reviews 243 dix-neuvième siècle, il fut longtemps favorable à une monarchie parlementaire, avant de se rallier à la République.Van Deth rappelle également le talent plus spécifiquement littéraire de cet historien des religions. À la fois force et faiblesse (tout comme chez Michelet) pour un “chercheur de vérité”, ce talent—voir par exemple sa “Prière sur l’Acropole” (1876)—l’encourageait à faire preuve d’imagination. Cette biographie a surtout pour mérite de préciser que, même si la plus grande partie de son œuvre a vieilli, Renan a joué un rôle important dans l’évolution du statut sociopolitique de la religion en France, contribuant ainsi indirectement au principe éminemment moderne de la laïcité. Western Washington University Edward Ousselin Society and Culture edited by Frederick Toner Begag, Azouz. Bouger la banlieue: l’intégration en question. Bordeaux: Elytis, 2012. ISBN 978-2-35639-097-4. Pp. 64. 6,10 a. In this short but candid volume, Begag engages his readers in the ever-so controversial topic of the French suburbs or projects, la banlieue. As the title suggests, the chapters, which can easily be read as essays, problematize the French model of integration by highlighting how and why it has failed its constituency.At first, Begag’s focus on the banlieue appears to counter his own critique of the“beur” stereotype (that all Beur live in the banlieues, which are full of “racaille,” to borrow Sarkozy’s word). The choice of the term banlieue over the racial categorization beur is, however, crucial because it allows the author to emphasize that the French social crisis is not (only) one of diversity (and immigration), but of socio-economic status. Begag provides some interesting and revealing statistics. There are, for example, no députés of extraEuropean origin in the National Assembly, and only six city mayors (out of 36,568). For Begag, democracy itself is at the heart of the problem because “élection après élection, le divorce se consume entre la classe politique et l’opinion publique qui ne se reconnaît pas dans ses représentants mâles, blancs, bourgeois, hétérosexuels” (13). Begag believes that the solution lies in political engagement, but understands the obstacles impeding progress. On the one hand, the youth of the banlieue have disengaged themselves from politics because they feel that their voices are not heard and do not matter, but on the other hand, because of this lack of engagement, “la banlieue devient un désert électoral. Cela a pour conséquence le désintérêt des décideurs politiques pour l’avenir de ces minorités qu’on appelle ‘visibles’ [...]. Pourquoi les défendre, les représenter politiquement puisqu’elles ne participent pas au scrutin électoral?” (25). Begag also understands that physical mobility is a necessary step toward social mobility, but knows all too well that in the current state of affairs, even those who try to “bouger,” or shake things up, face great difficulties. In order to move towards social equality, a first step would require that the“mobilités de ceux qui ont le courage de bouger soient fructueuses et fassent école dans les cités”(54). Begag’s solution for social equality therefore requires a society-wide effort: the dominant group must willingly open its doors to the daughters and sons of immigrants, and the latter have to be politically active in the reshaping of the nation. The length of the book, its accessible language, and in-text references make it an excellent supplementary text for intermediary to advanced French language courses. By exposing a number of factors that contribute to political lethargy in immigrant communities, Begag’s collection of essays would be an ideal companion text for French civilization courses, or for that matter, introductory courses in political science, sociology, international law or any course where subaltern issues constitute a major component of class discussion. University of Missouri Virginie Ems-Bléneau Brenner, Elma, Meredith Cohen, and Mary Franklin-Brown, eds. Memory and Commemoration in Medieval Culture. Burlington,VT: Ashgate, 2013. ISBN 978-14094 -2393-5. Pp. xvii + 354. $124.95. The sixteen essays of this collection, organized in...