The cultural and educational influence of Durkheim, 1900–1945

The story of how Durkheimian sociology became the "official" ideology of the Third Republic and influenced many sectors of French culture and education up to 1945 has received less attention than it deserves. ⁽¹⁾ After the sociologist's death in 1917 his friends and disciples continued to exercise power in the Université, i.e. in education at every level. ⁽²⁾ The initial influence was due in part to the backing of Buisson, who had supported his election to the Sorborme chair which he himself had occupied until he became a deputy. The closeness of their collaboration is evinced by the fact that Durkheim contributed the key articles on "Education" and "Pédagogie" to Buisson's monumental Nouveau. Dictionnaire de Pédagogie (1911). His connection with Jaurès, the socialist politician, and, like himself, an archicube (a former alumnus of the Ecole Normale Supérieure [ENS]) was also advantageous, as also were his contacts with other politicians such as Millerand and Poincaré.