‘The State facing its barbarians’: a discussion on government action against violence and terrorism

The École nationale des ponts et chaussées is organising a discussion on *L’État face à ses barbares* (The State Facing Its Barbarians), co-written by Jérôme Ferret and Vincent Spenlehauer, published by Éditions Hermann.

Monday 23 November, from 5.45 pm to 8 pm
Navier Lecture Theatre
The discussion will be followed by a social gathering at La Ruche from 7 pm
Free admission, subject to registration

Despite the traumatic events that have afflicted France and many other European countries since the 1960s, a genuine social science of terrorism has never really emerged. This book puts forward an original thesis: terrorist violence is not an external, imported phenomenon, but an endogenous social phenomenon – both a product of and a reflection on the internal dynamics specific to contemporary states.

To discuss this:

• Jérôme Ferret, professor at the University of Toulouse Capitole, the Toulouse School of Economics (TSE) and research associate at EHESS,
• Arthur Désnouveaux, essayist and founder of the Life for Paris association, established in the wake of the 13 November 2025 attacks by survivors (of whom he is one) and bereaved families, and author of *L’Impasse*, which has just been published by Rio Bravo.

This event will provide an opportunity to continue the discussion on the work of Vincent Spenlehauer, an engineer, political scientist and sociologist, who headed the School’s Centre for Training in Public Policy.
It follows on from the tribute paid to him during an academic conference held last May entitled “Towards Engaged Social Sciences”.