Regional Innovation Systems and Economic Performance: Between Regions and Nations

This article aims at assessing the diversity of regional innovation systems and their economic performance in Europe. We propose to adapt the social systems of innovation and production (SSIP) framework at the regional level by identifying the specific arrangements of each part of the innovation and production system. Three key features of European regions are investigated using this framework: the diversity of regional SSIP, the interplay of regional and national determinants of such systems, and the impact of SSIP on regional performance. We identify a typology of regional configurations resulting from the combination of scientific, technological, educational and industrial indicators, using multivariate data analysis. A variance analysis approach is then developed in order to test the existence of specific regional growth regimes. The results highlight a persistently high level of diversity of regional configurations, notably among knowledge intensive regions, but also show that national institutional settings remain of fundamental importance in shaping a number of regional configurations. A final conclusion relates to the weak correlation observed between the structural characteristics of regions and their performance over the 2003–2007 period: regional performance remains primarily shaped by national trends. Overall, the paper questions the regional dimension of these “systems”.     

Former le citoyen de la république naissante retour sur une controverse aux origines de l’école républicaine

This paper looks at the original conflicting approach of the republican school, understood as a traning ground for citizenship. The separation between those who wish to develop a truly democratic school, and those who do not see in this objective a political priority for the emerging republic, embodies the most profound debate of this moment of political foundation of the Republican school. Behind the two visions of the Republican school (education vs instruction), two visions of Republican society are opposed. Further, in the controversy surrounding the nature of the school an opposition, later amplified, emerges between social Republicans and liberal Republicans     

Pierre de Villars: An Ormiste after the Fronde

The historiography of the Fronde (1648-1653) suffers from apaucity of social studies, such that the civil war which toreFrance apart during the minority of Louis XIV is usually presentedas a vain reaction against the rise of absolutism. What canthe fate of the Frondeurs after 1653 tell us in this regard?Pierre de Villars was of the main leaders of the Orméeof Bordeaux. The reconstruction of his career, reflected inthe social connotations of the titles he bore, proves that inspite of the solidity and strength of the protection he enjoyed,he had to pay for defeat by abandoning his earlier ambitions.This outcome alters the perspectives and modifies the analysesthat have traditionally been advanced where these events areconcerned.     

Saul le nazir ou la Legende d'un roi

Si nous apportons de l'attention a certaines difficultes presentes en 1 Samuel au lieu de les contourner par des approches synchroniques, on identifie des indices qui, mis en relation, peuvent nous permettre de remonter a une legende de Saul. Loin de commencer en 1 Samuel 9-10, le proto-cycle du roi debutait des le chapitre 1 pour se terminer au chapitre 14, tout en englobant le recit du coffre de Yhwh: dans cette legende, Saul etait un nazir qui reprit le coffre a Gibea dans le but de vaincre les Philistins.     

Actualité

This article critically examines the first instances of homosexuality in French youth literature in the 1990s. It starts with a literature review of the fictional texts published specifically for a youth audience, around four key themes: same-sex love stories between teenagers; adult homosexuality and homoparentalité; HIV/AIDS; coming out and homophobia. This review is followed by an analysis of the factors accounting for the appearance and development of homosexuality (through LGBT characters, feelings and situations) in French youth literature in the last decade of the twentieth century. The final part of the article discusses the importance and political function of youth literature with regards to LGBT issues in the French context.