
Against Amnesia
French Speaking Administrative Sciences from Saint-Simon to the Present Day
Jean-Francois Chanlat(Author)
Edward Elgar Publishing
Will be published approx. on 28. August 2026
Book
Hardback
344 pages
978-1-0494-0024-2 (ISBN)
Description
Against Amnesia provides a personal perspective on the French-speaking tradition in administrative sciences. Exploring the evolution of the field, Jean-Francois Chanlat highlights the originality, influence and challenges that have emerged in the context of globalisation and the Anthropocene.
Chapters evaluate the first reflections from the 19th century by great figures (such as Saint-Simon, Comte, Fourier, Proudhon, Courcelle-Seneuil & Leplay), tracing how they shaped the classics of the early 20th century such as Le Chatelier, the introducer of Taylorism in France and Henri Fayol, the 'father' of administrative theory. Chanlat then analyses French industrialists, such as Andre Citroen and Louis Renault, the French Fords, Charles Gide, the father of social economy thinking, Simone Weil, the philosopher of work, and the main currents that emerged after the Second World War, contextualising the nature and influence of contemporary French research. He also assesses the emergence of contemporary French language studies across the disciplines of sociology, psycho-sociology, economics and technology. The book seeks to develop a broad culture in the social sciences and encourage a multilingualism scholarship.
This important and unique book is a valuable resource for students and scholars of business and management, organization studies and sociology. It will also benefit researchers and business consultants looking to globalise their knowledge of administrative sciences and to discover or rediscover the richness of the French speaking tradition in organization and administrative sciences.
Chapters evaluate the first reflections from the 19th century by great figures (such as Saint-Simon, Comte, Fourier, Proudhon, Courcelle-Seneuil & Leplay), tracing how they shaped the classics of the early 20th century such as Le Chatelier, the introducer of Taylorism in France and Henri Fayol, the 'father' of administrative theory. Chanlat then analyses French industrialists, such as Andre Citroen and Louis Renault, the French Fords, Charles Gide, the father of social economy thinking, Simone Weil, the philosopher of work, and the main currents that emerged after the Second World War, contextualising the nature and influence of contemporary French research. He also assesses the emergence of contemporary French language studies across the disciplines of sociology, psycho-sociology, economics and technology. The book seeks to develop a broad culture in the social sciences and encourage a multilingualism scholarship.
This important and unique book is a valuable resource for students and scholars of business and management, organization studies and sociology. It will also benefit researchers and business consultants looking to globalise their knowledge of administrative sciences and to discover or rediscover the richness of the French speaking tradition in organization and administrative sciences.
Reviews / Votes
'Jean-Francois Chanlat has produced a tour de force. Against Amnesia recovers two centuries of French-speaking thought on organisation, administration and management with rare erudition and verve. By restoring this rich intellectual heritage to view, Chanlat offers a powerful antidote to the anglophone provincialism of our field.' -- Mustafa F. Ozbilgin, Brunel University of London, UK 'Against Amnesia is an invitation to think differently about management. Jean-Francois Chanlat challenges the illusion of universality in organization theory by uncovering the depth, diversity, and originality of French-speaking traditions. This book not only fills a major gap but reopens a vital dialogue across linguistic and intellectual traditions.' -- Eric Davoine, University of Fribourg, Switzerland 'Driven by the race for rankings, much of international management research has lost both its roots and its theoretical unity. Professor Chanlat's book helps correct this loss of memory and highlights the vitality of new French-speaking foundational approaches: an essential work for anyone who wants to bring meaning back to their research.' -- Armand Hatchuel, Ecole des Mines de Paris, Fellow of the European Academy of Management and Member of the French National Academy of Technologies, FranceMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cheltenham
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-0494-0024-2 (9781049400242)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Jean-Francois Chanlat, Professor Emeritus, Universite Paris Dauphine - PSL, France, Affiliate Professor, HEC-Montreal, Canada and Guest Professor, Universite de Rennes, France. Recipient of the IFSAM (International Federation of Scholarly Associations of Management) Award for Exceptional Service to the Management Field Worldwide, 2022. EURAM Distinguished Fellow. Member of the board of la Societe Francaise de Management