| Popis: |
This article analyzes the construction of the French students’ collective ethos during the Algerian War. Unsettled by the events, a large fraction within the leadership of the National Union of the Students of France (UNEF), the only representative organization of this population at the time, promoted the politicization of the UNEF and the mobilization of its members in favour of peace negotiations in Algeria and in support of the Algerian people’s national aspirations. Through an exceptionally rich discursive production, the leaders of this movement, who promoted student trade-unionism, created a new image of the group meant to replace the old folkloric representation by the image of a politically engaged and responsible citizen. This re-elaboration of the pre-discursive ethos of the group contributed to legitimize the political expression of the UNEF and to mobilize its members. It was also used as part of a “rhetoric of polarization” which enabled students in favour of trade-unionism to distinguish themselves from those of the opposite trend in the UNEF, who advocated non-political student corporatism. Serving several rhetorical objectives, the new collective ethos designated a rapidly increasing population in a unique social and political context. |
