Title :

The political socialization of engineers at work: Technoscientific interpretive schema, professional careers, and marital life

Author(s) :

Sainsaulieu, Ivan [Auteur]
Centre Lillois d’Études et de Recherches Sociologiques et Économiques - UMR 8019 [CLERSÉ]
Surdez, Muriel [Auteur]
Zufferey, Eric [Auteur]

Journal title :

Revue française de science politique (english version)

Volume number :

69

Pages :

439-459

Publication date :

2019

English keyword(s) :

engineers
work
career
socialization
political homogamy

HAL domain(s) :

Sciences de l'Homme et Société/Sociologie

English abstract : [en]

This paper examines how work has impacted the political opinions of a small group of nanotechnology engineers. It analyses how political worldviews are developed by members of the upper-middle classes, in this case ...
Show more >This paper examines how work has impacted the political opinions of a small group of nanotechnology engineers. It analyses how political worldviews are developed by members of the upper-middle classes, in this case technological professionals, and focuses on the linkages established at key moments of their process of political socialization. While the engineers interviewed expressed first being socialized to politics in their families (which were mostly right-wing leaning), they then distanced themselves from this heritage by acquiring a “technoscientific” worldview during their professional training which gradually influenced their understanding of politics. The careers of technological professionals can then take either a collective or individualistic turn, whether they orient themselves towards greater technical professionalism or aim for more managerial goals. These two career paths may subsequently nudge the political leanings of engineers to the left or to the right. Such orientations may be further confirmed or on the contrary challenged by the configuration and evolution of interpersonal networks, particularly on account of their professional or extra-professional components. Thus family life and friends can counterbalance or reinforce the political socialization that takes place at work.Show less >

Language :

Anglais

Peer reviewed article :

Oui

Audience :

Internationale

Popular science :

Non

Administrative institution(s) :

Université de Lille
CNRS
Univ. Littoral Côte d’Opale

Collections :

• Centre Lillois d'Études et de Recherches Sociologiques et Économiques (CLERSE) - UMR 8019

Research team(s) :

Ancrages et dynamiques comparés du politique

Submission date :

2021-03-25T21:13:56Z
2021-03-26T15:26:19Z