Territoires et subjectivités : les nouveaux défis de l’action sociale

Territories and subjectivities : the new challenges of social action. Social action has always been part of a local dynamic. The local focus is not the same, however, when central State policy is outlined locally or, as is the case today, when contributions must be made to the social cohesion of local political territories. The author therefore specifies the meaning of the concepts of « social action » and « territory » . Several themes are examined to analyse contemporary social action policies and their relations with local territories. Firstly, the theme of « intangible » territory which is developed around a policy action project. The issue of democratic pluralism raises the challenge for democracies of building a joint world shared by individuals who are increasingly urged to stand out from each other. The author then proposes a critical approach to the usual notions of « proximity » and «social bond » which accompany local social development. The new modes of « governmentality » arising from decentralisation are then considered. These analyses lead to a consideration of social action and its ultimate aims because from this side of political changes, social action is faced with a radical transformation of modes of subjectivation.