CIS - Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas

• The tribute ceremony was chaired by the president of the CIS, José Félix Tezanos

De izquierda a derecha, Marina Subirats, Michel Wieviorka, José Félix Tezanos, Manuel Castells y Verónica Díaz durante su intervención en el acto El Legado de Alain Touraine

In June 2023, the French sociologist Alain Touraine , considered one of the great sociologists of the 20th and 21st centuries, died in Paris at the age of 97.

Touraine, who taught at different universities in France and was a visiting professor at the most prestigious international universities, is the author of numerous publications, such as “Sociology of action” (1969), “Post-industrial society” (1969), “Critique of modernity” (1994), “What is democracy” (1995), “A new paradigm to understand today's world” (2005) or some more recent ones such as “After the crisis” (2010) and “ The end of societies” (2013).

His academic activity, his vision of societies, and also his personality, had a strong impact on thinkers and researchers in Europe, the United States and Latin America; region to which he dedicated a very important part of his work.

The Center for Sociological Research has organized this tribute to value his legacy and the relevance of his thought, focused on; among other subjects, in the study and analysis of current societies, social movements, European values and the principles of equality and diversity as new challenges for democracies.

The president of the CIS, José Félix Tezanos, the professor of Sociology at the UNED, Verónica Díaz, the Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Marina Subirats, the director of Studies at the École des Hautes Études in Sciences Sociales of Paris, Michel Wieviorka and the former Minister of Universities, Manuel Castells. All of them have been collaborators of the French sociologist at different times throughout his career, sharing reflections on the validity of his ideas in today's world as well as the mark that Touraine left on their academic and professional careers.

During the presentation, Professor Verónica Díaz highlighted Touraine's thoughts on Europe and highlighted that "for the French sociologist, a strong and united Europe was necessary." "Touraine considered it urgent to create a European Union with ideas and values beyond the economy," said the professor.

Professor Marina Subirats has indicated that Touraine "was the first to speak of a social change in which individualism increasingly prevails."

The professor and disciple of the honoree, Michel Wieviorka , has assured that "Touraine was the first to speak of the term postindustrial society after the industrial movement."

The Professor and former Minister of Universities, Manuel Castells, has highlighted that Touraine's project "was to understand the challenges of the world in favor of human rights."

Manuel Castells intervenes.

"She studied feminist consciousness and the women's movement, which she believed to be the most important for social change," said Castells, who also explained that "the subject was the most important thing for Touraine. The subject can be a collective or individual action that has the capacity to transform societies, norms and institutions."

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