This text is part of the special notebook The 100 years of Guy Rocher
If the name of Guy Rocher is intrinsically linked to Quebec, the sociologist’s aura has extended well beyond the borders of the province. His writings and teachings crossed the Atlantic Ocean and changed the way sociology is taught in the French-speaking countries of Europe, namely France, Belgium and Switzerland.
By publishing his Introduction to general sociology, in 1968-1969, Guy Rocher caused a small revolution. Until then, sociology textbooks (a fairly new university discipline) were almost non-existent in French. His work will therefore quickly be published in France, which will open up the French-speaking international market.
“Rocher’s work filled a void,” recalls Monique Hirschhorn, professor emeritus of sociology at Paris Cité University. She remembers having known the Quebec sociologist through the International Association of French-speaking Sociologists (AISLF), of which Guy Rocher was a member from the founding, in 1959.
“What is also extremely interesting is that his work gave great importance, and for good reason, to Anglo-Saxon and German literature,” she emphasizes. It was a French-speaking presentation of sociology, but it was far from being limited to sociology in the French language. »
In 1972, Guy Rocher continued his mission to introduce French-speakers to the sociology of the United States by publishing Talcott Parsons and American sociology. At that time, in France, North American sociology practically did not exist, explains Christian Lalive D’Épinay, honorary professor at the University of Geneva.
“And Guy Rocher broke all that out, with an ecumenical sociology, in a certain way,” explains the man who was president of the AISLF from 1985 to 1988. He put the sociology of the United States and Canada into perspective. with European sociology, and sometimes even going beyond: it was the first treatise in French which adopted this perspective. In this sense, he was a transmitter of knowledge. »
The founder and former director of the Interfaculty Center for Gerontology and Vulnerability Studies at the University of Geneva, who is now 85 years old, remembers that his friend Jean Kellerhals left Switzerland to take the courses. by Guy Rocher at the University of Montreal.
Building bridges
The Belgian sociologist Marcel Bolle de Bal, who was also president of the AISLF, recalls that the main mission of the association was to defend French-speaking culture in sociology “in relation to invasive English”. Guy Rocher is therefore the one who built bridges between French-speaking and Anglo-Saxon sociologies, underlines Mr. Bolle de Bal, now 93 years old.
For Monique Hirschhorn, the specificity of her Quebec colleague is to skilfully organize the thoughts of the authors he cites, without listing them, which gives his works an added educational value.
“It does not present the authors one after the other,” explains the 84-year-old French sociologist. Moreover, the construction of his manual in three volumes (Social action, Perspectives on social reality And Social change) is very significant. He focuses on an issue, and from there he looks at what different authors have said and how their thoughts complement or contradict each other. Its desire is not to be exhaustive, but to construct something that helps the student or even the colleague to think about a problem. »
“His international influence comes from the fact that in matters of sociology, he was an excellent teacher, but also someone who knew how to use authors to propose something that was not radically original, but organized: we could find your way there,” she adds.
Militant, but not partisan
All the European sociologists interviewed for this article took care to underline, in addition to his indisputable contribution to sociology, the human qualities of Guy Rocher.
“I have a lot of admiration for him,” confides Christian Lalive d’Épinay. What is surprising with Guy Rocher is that in associations and almost everywhere in institutions, there are always rumors, noises, gossip… But I have never heard any meanness or negative rumors about respect. » He adds that Guy Rocher is a man of exemplary uprightness, with a great sense of listening. “He listens to others, always in a respectful manner. It seems a pleonasm, but he respects the other as alter. In its difference. »
For his friend Marcel Bolle de Bal, Guy Rocher is a “remarkable” man, who inspires respect. “He is an excellent sociologist and an engaged citizen at the same time,” he adds. He managed to keep a nice balance between sociology and politics. »
Christian Lalive D’Épinay describes him as a committed sociologist, who is not “locked into sociology”.
“He was always an activist, but I never felt he was partisan,” adds the Swiss sociologist, who has good memories, filled with enriching conversations at Guy Rocher’s residence, in the Laurentians.
“The members have always maintained very close relations with him,” adds Monique Hirschhorn. Scientific links, but also personal ones. »
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