Touraine, Alain (1925–)

Alain Touraine is one of the most important living sociologists. Initially interested in industrial sociology, his ideas later evolved into an interest in the social actor and social movements. His concept of present-day social conflicts is based more on cultural than economic factors. He is closely associated with the prestigious École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (Paris), and he has been awarded numerous honorary doctorates as a mark of international recognition for his work. He lived in Chile for several years, where he founded the Industrial Sociology Research Center in 1956. His work has had a considerable impact in both Europe and Latin America.

Touraine's concept of sociology focuses on action and the abilities of the social actor and social interactions to produce society. While some theorists argue that social behavior is a product of the social structure, Touraine argues that it is the actors themselves who produce the society. In his view, society resembles different fields of conflict in which social actors struggle to impose both meaning on, and definition of, the situation. In addition, social actors in present-day societies, in contrast with historical societies, are characterized by their ability to reflect on how society functions and by their ability to act consciously in relation to it.

Social movements hold a privileged place within this concept of postindustrial societies, as the creation of new values is attributed to collective actors. Touraine was one of the first to question the importance of social class as a component in the social movements that appeared in the 1960s. His work both reflected, and played a prominent role in, the general movement within social sciences away from the Marxist or economic paradigm and toward a paradigm in which cultural elements, such as recognition and identity, were given increasing importance. It was not a question of undervaluing the importance of the economic base of society, but rather of recognizing that class struggle was no longer the principal source of historical change in developed countries. Today, the central conflicts relate to how different cultures can live together harmoniously and how cultural identities can be reconciled with human rights. Confrontation also can be found in the private sphere, in areas that, prior to the uprisings of the 1960s, were considered to be private problems of the individual. This applies to views regarding partners, the family, abortion, faith, euthanasia, gay and lesbian rights, and so on.

His recent work includes an analysis of the riots of 2005 in the banlieues (outskirts) of Paris involving young French men of Arab origin. According to Touraine, the riots occurred as a result of French society labeling those who they consider to be “the others” as inferior, second-class citizens. This cultural problem finally exploded when “the others” grew tired of the situation and opted to embrace the definition of their identity as “the others,” turning to religious fundamentalism in the process. Currently, Touraine is working with Muslim women on a new book, and he has found that many of these women have never used the pronoun I because men have not allowed them to be subjects, only objects. Touraine's proposal to prevent cultural conflicts is taken from the French revolutionary tradition: Liberty, Fraternity, Equality and… secularism!

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