DSOC 25A38 - Sociology of Ideas. Franco-American intellectual exchanges since 1945

This course introduces students to a computational approach to the sociology of ideas. It is structured around a (1) classic research question in the social sciences requiring the (2) collection of data relevant to the circulation of bodies and ideas between France and the USA (3) in order to study these datasets and produce insights relevant to the research question The educational objective of the course is to immerse students in the practice of research in computational social sciences through a variety of tools presented in class. It does so while maintaining a shared object of study. This year, we will study Franco-American academic and intellectual exchanges since 1945. French scientists and intellectuals have long benefited from the hospitality of American institutions. These exchanges have led to an intense circulation of knowledge, the transformation of both US and French academic scenes and the achievement of lasting results. They have transformed American universities to some extent, and, to a greater extent, they have affected French institutions through both brain drain and reverse brain drain. Yet, unlike larger diasporas (Chinese, Indian, or post-Soviet), the Franco-American scientific exchange has never been systematically studied. Sociology of Ideas fills this gap by devising a methodology to study three dimensions - MOBILITY: French academics in the USA / American academics in France - COLLABORATION: Franco-American partnerships - INFLUENCE / ATTRACTION: French ideas on American campuses / American ideas on French campuses

Vincent-Antonin LEPINAY

Séminaire

English

Students who wish to enroll in Sociology of Ideas need to have a taste for research. That entails: (1) asking questions leading to research projects, articulating facts and sociological concepts (2) finding extant references of studies having addressed like questions (3) imagining a research protocol applied to empirical evidence Students who have absolutely no background in statistics will find the course difficult to follow when they enter the project phase. Although advanced statistics is not a requirement, a taste for manipulating data will be an added skill to excel here. A few tools will be introduced in class. The course is device-free. This course expects engagement with the assigned readings and participation in the classroom. Both things are not compatible with screens-induced distraction. Students may be asked to use their laptop during the workshop sessions of the meetings where we will play with data. If this rule should be impossible to abide by, please do not enroll.

Spring 2025-2026

The course will combine ● readings in history and sociology of ideas and migration ● exercises based on case studies (databases) will be shared with the students, who will use them to develop their research projects. This project may also be suggested by an individual student or a group of students. It is expected that students read and participate in class. Every week, 2 students will start the readings discussion with a 5 minutes introduction ; after class, two students will share their written notes to the group. These notes will be the addition of homework notes (on readings) and in-class notes. I will grade these notes (clarity, organization, depth, relevance, creativity) and with the presentation and participation in class, these three components will weigh 40% of the final grade. The remaining 60% of the course grade will be based on the final project that each student - or groups of 2-3 students - will produce. These final projects will be research pieces based on empirical material collected either online or by interviews/fieldworks.