On January 30, 2025, join a debate in Marseille (and online) centered on the book « Aboard the Giants of the Seas » (La Découverte), with Claire Flécher.
The APSE, in partnership with Nonfiction, invites you to a free and open debate in Marseille (also available via videoconference), on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 17:30.
As part of a series of debates on contemporary work issues and challenges, the APSE will host Claire Flécher, sociologist, lecturer at the Institute of Work Studies at the University Lyon 2 (IETL) and the Max Weber Center, to discuss her book Aboard the Giants of the Seas (La Découverte, 2023).
While over 90% of the world’s goods are transported by sea each year, maritime transport remains a largely unknown world.
How are these goods flows organized? What happens on these giants of globalization, the commercial vessels? Who works on them, how, and at what cost?
Based on an ethnographic study, this book offers insight into the hidden side of the transportation of goods we consume and explores « bottom-up » globalized labor.
As profound transformations have impacted the sector in recent years, extreme rationalization, driven by market logic, has prevailed. What used to be the heart of a seaman’s life seems to have diminished significantly.
In this closed world of globalization, the work collective must navigate contradictory demands: ensuring everyone’s safety while transporting more goods continuously, maintaining solidarity despite status and wage inequalities. Depending on the situation, class, race, and gender identities are constantly being reshaped, but this does not lead to a challenge of social hierarchies – peace on board must be maintained.
During this debate, the APSE will explore with Claire Flécher the following questions:
- What is happening on commercial ships today?
- How are professional relationships organized?
- What are the concrete methods of « embedded ethnography »?
- How is this sector emblematic of globalization and its effects?
This event is free and open to all, but prior registration is required.
Please register on the APSE website by clicking here to receive a reminder and practical information closer to the event.
This debate is also offered via videoconference for those who cannot attend in Marseille. Due to logistical reasons, please indicate during registration if you will attend in person or remotely (online connection details will be sent on the day of the event).
You can also find an interview with Claire Flécher, « Seafaring Lives in the Age of Globalization, » conducted by Jean Bastien on Nonfiction.
(*) The Association for the Sociology of Business (APSE), founded in 1998 by sociologist Renaud Sainsaulieu, is a non-profit association bringing together researchers, sociologists in business, students, and professionals. For over 25 years, it has organized regular meetings on the use of sociology in the business world to better understand work situations and companies in order to contribute to their transformation.
