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AbstractThe programmes deployed within policies intended to promote social integration in urban areas reveal the differences in philosophy that underlie the approach to place in the welfare regimes of the United States and France. Hidden behind what appear to be similar instruments of locally controlled projects, are two very different logics. They vary in terms of the role of the central state, the dynamic system of local actors, and the relationship to beneficiaries. In the United States the basic notion is that of a common interest, and the goal is to revitalize the community by relying on a plurality of actors, each of whom has a legitimate interest in a stronger community. In France, in contrast, the principle is that of the public interest, and the task is to generate a general interest by mobilizing only local public sector actors. This difference is illustrated by contrasting two policies: Empowerment Zones in the USA and France's Major Projects for Cities.

Choosing the method at the basis of an international survey is not only a technical or a scientific issue since the method has deep political implications. This article analyses the political functions carried out by the method at the origin of the OECD's PISA program through the particular national experience of France (1995-2008). Adopting the standpoint of a qualitative sociology of education policies, it shows that the political functions of the method are different according to the sequences of the policy process. During the conception of PISA at the international level, the method strongly contributes to formulate the problems that must be addressed, how and by who. During the implementation in France, the method is a powerful tool of social control. Concerning the reception of PISA in France, the method highly structures the national policy debate by predetermining the possible cognitive and political uses of the survey.

Keywords: PISA, méthode des comparaisons internationales, politiques éducatives, instruments d'action publique, débat public, PISA, methods of international surveys, education policies, regulation tools, public debate, PISA, métodos de comparação internacionais, políticas educativas, instrumentos de acção pública, debate público

ABSTRACTOver the past ten years or so in Europe, community-based services have been seen as a major potential source of jobs. But the situation has proved paradoxical, since none of the policies intended to realize this potential have succeeded. The issue is not merely job creation; it also involves finding a solution to the crisis of the welfare state that, instead of social regression, should offer opportunities for society overall to play a part. To clarify such an assertion, the text first describes initiatives targeting a reciprocal economy and then attempts to summarize the key issues involved in the relationships between this economy and public policies.

This article aims at framing the notion of “self-government”, as an activity capable of affecting the living condition of a community, whose member encounter a rupture in their life experience continuum. The restoration of the central role of social and political participation in our lives proves to be vital at this present time. The progressive disempowerment affecting individuals and human health, and the limited impulse of participatory and deliberative democracy in the renewal of democracy are two signs of this necessity. Notably, the development of sociability is essential to preserve individuals and to promote the definition of one's self as a social and political subject.

Keywords: participation, autogouvernement, sociabilité, démocratie, quotidien, désempowerment, environnement, enquête, santé, participation, self-government, sociability, democracy, everyday life, disempowerment, environment, inquiry, health

SummaryThe economic crisis presently hitting many countries has given rise to an offensive against the welfare state. Through an analysis of the case of Italy, and particularly of the situation in the southern regions of Italy, the author maintains that it would be more appropriate to speak of a crisis within the welfare state, than of a crisis of the welfare state. Examining the policies applied in the southern regions, the author shows how welfare policies are developed during and as an effect of the crisis. According to him, it is because of the economic and social crisis that certain welfare policies are cut back, while others are modified or even developed.

In Quebec, the reform of social assistance policy, announced by the Liberal government in January 2015 and finally adopted by Parliament on November 10, 2016, was very controversial. To specify the normative models in competition that emerge from this controversy, we collected all the articles of opinion (political and activist forums, editorial forums, reader's letter) published in three Quebec mass newspapers between 2015 et 2016. We are modeling our approach on the cognitive policy analysis (Muller, 2005) in order to identify the main normative and cognitive references that are put forward. This analysis highlights that supporters and opponents rarely use the same references; especially, people benefiting from social assistance are rarely described with the same characteristics. The opponents, however, have rarely put forward in their argument an alternative to the normative model developed by the government.

Keywords: Aide sociale, prestataires, politique, action publique, réforme, militant, discours, approche cognitive, normativité, Québec, média, presse, social assistance, people on social assistance, policy, public action, reform, activist, discourse, cognitive policy analysis, normativity, Quebec, media, press