Sciences Po students are known for being involved in public life, either by volunteering or by getting involved in politics. But the pandemic has reshaped their approach towards activism. Find out more in our report from the ground.

By Lucas Nitzsche (promo 25)
Translated by Laurence Bekk-Day (promo 18)

“Understand our times to shape the world’s future”: Sciences Po’s new motto helps restate the school’s raison d’être. For over 150 years, Sciences Po encourages students to join the public conversation. Indeed, over half of students either supports or volunteers for an association¹, although the pandemic has undermined the students’ desire for effectively committing to a cause.

The Covid-19 pandemic and losing commitment

Ever since lockdown, Sciences Po hallways seem eerily empty. Same goes for auditoriums hosting lectures and debates. “Students are no longer used to getting involved,” explains Antoine Lengès, secretary general of the Bureau des étudiants (the student services office). La Péniche (a long art deco bench in Sciences Po’s entrance hall), an iconic hub and meeting place for students, where activists used to leaflet, is far less crowded than before the pandemic. Indeed, “about two-thirds of on-campus associations were put on standby or became dormant,” says Antoine Lengès. Even though most “permanent” (as they’re called) associations, such as the Bureau des étudiants, are still active, they haven’t remained unaffected: “Usually, the Bureau des étudiants had four or five competing electoral lists. But since the pandemic, it’s been reduced to just one per year.”

Some associations are bucking the trend, among which Sciences Po Environment (SPE). Its vice-president, Marion Dejean, has noted strong interest among students, especially on regional campuses such as Nancy. But maintaining long-term motivation among students and channeling their commitment remains a challenge; many join as members, yet play no active role. “We had to restructure the association around several focus areas, to spur students within smaller groups, and make sure that our projects remain on track,” she explains.

Common commitment themes

To keep the home fires burning, a number of themes successfully bring people together. According to Baptiste Vivien, student engagement manager at Sciences Po, “we note that students strongly lean towards supporting solidarity-based projects that focus on human issues, the health and wellbeing of students or defending fundamental rights.”

The number of student initiatives — nominated initiatives can then become recognized student associations — has increased nearly 30% in five years, and the political work around these themes continues to be attractive. François Jarlier, who used to coordinate the Jeunes Insoumis.es (a youth-led, partisan political organization on the far-left) at Sciences Po, concurs: the political party’s program — “L’Avenir en commun,” the common future — is “very well known by activists, because it’s comprehensive, expertly researched and revised,” he says. “Activists join the Jeunes Insoumis.es to fight for social or environmental justice.”

Most of the students join associations that aim to promote the welfare of others, often alongside the Civic Learning Programme (see sidebar), introduced by Sciences Po in 2017. “Civic internships are often a catalyst,” notes Antoine Lengès. After experimenting in the field, students often wish to further their activism within civil society in addition to their studies.

Political movements and parties are the winners of the reshuffled non-profit landscape

Prioritizing social or environmental justice also led left-leaning students to radicalize. In Une jeunesse engagée (A committed youth), a study about Sciences Po students led by Martial Foucault & Anne Muxel, researchers observed a shift in the students’ political stance. “One of the study’s results underscored how students went from being ‘Jospinists’ (Lionel Jospin led the moderate-left French Socialist Party) to being ‘Mélenchonists’ (Jean-Luc Mélenchon led the far-left La France Insoumise Party).”²

Committing to political brainwork is therefore more appealing, especially given France’s recent presidential election and protests over pension cuts. François Jarlier wishes it could be otherwise: “It’s simpler to get people to commit to intellectual work rather than some more hands-on forms of engagement, such as leafletting or militant action.”

The right’s glaring absence

Another insight from Martial Foucault & Anne Muxel’s study is the moderate right’s decline. It was “already a rare sight 20 years ago,” but it continues to recede. Hector Vesproumis, ex-president of the Jeunes Républicains (a liberal-conservative political party) Sciences Po, doesn’t disagree: “The Jeunes Républicains failed to rally support during the presidential election, and the party’s stance on pension cuts didn’t help attract more students to the cause.”

On the far-right, the Rassemblement National party, the largest far-right party in France, never managed to establish a beachhead at Sciences Po. However, Éric Zemmour, a pundit turned presidential hopeful, had more success — his party Reconquête! (Reconquest!) even had a Sciences Po branch during France’s 2022 election campaign. In order to be valid, a student association must receive a minimum number of votes from students throughout the association recognition procedure. The student who founded the Reconquête! branch at Sciences Po, told Émile last spring: “We collected 256 votes in the first semester and 153 in the second. There are around fifty pro-Zemmour students at Sciences Po; out of these, ten are actively involved.” Will France’s 2027 presidential election reshuffle Sciences Po students’ political leanings once more?

Footnotes

1. Martial Foucault and Anne Muxel, A committed youth. Investigating Sciences Po students, 2002-2022 [Une jeunesse engagée. Enquête sur les étudiants de Sciences Po, 2002-2022] (Les Presses de Sciences Po, 2022), no English translation available.

2. Interview of Martial Foucault and Anne Muxel, “Sciences Po students are more politicized than twenty years ago” [« Les étudiants de Sciences Po sont plus politisés qu’il y a 20 ans »], Émile Magazine, no English translation available.

The Civic Learning Programme, a motivating force at Sciences Po

In 2017, when the Civil Learning Programme was put in place, students reacted with suspicion: “We were asked why we wanted to ‘force’ students to commit,” remembers Sandra Biondo, the program’s coordinator. The program mandatory requirements — two field experiences and a Capstone Project — seemed stringent.

Perception of the Civil Learning Programme has largely improved over the years, especially because it helps student acquire skills. Through their internships, students are in contact with ultimate beneficiaries, face real-life challenges and build up their network. According to Sandra Biondo, “such skills can come in handy during emergencies.” The pandemic or the Russia-Ukraine war come to mind. “Students are quicker to react; for example, they can swiftly set up fundraising campaigns or drum up activist support.”

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are especially attractive to students: 89% choose to join one for their civic internship. The topics of involvement are very diverse and vary from campus to campus. “Students at the Menton campus, for example, are more involved in advocating for migrants, because of their geographical location.”

This article was initially published in French, in the 29th issue of Émile magazine, released in novembre 2023.