School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences
The School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences began as Section VI of the École pratique des hautes études. This department was created in 1868 to train academic researchers. It operated under this umbrella until the 23rd of January 1975. On that date, it gained autonomy as an independent higher education institution. The Rockefeller Foundation supported its creation through initiatives dating back to the 1920s. After World War II, the foundation invested more funds into French institutions. They sought to encourage non-Marxist sociological studies. Lucien Febvre took the head of the newly formed section in 1947. Fernand Braudel succeeded him in 1956. He concentrated study groups at a building on boulevard Raspail. Funding came from the Ford Foundation to support these efforts.
Lucien Febvre and Fernand Braudel were members of the École des Annales. This school dominated historical analysis in France during the interwar period. Claude Lévi-Strauss pressured them to integrate new contributions from sociology and ethnography. They advocated for the concept of a nearly imperceptible passage of history. Critics reproached them along with structuralists for ignoring politics. They also faced criticism for overlooking individual influence over fate. Colonial wars of liberation were taking place during this era. The work of Braudel and Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie greatly affected research in France. Their influence began shaping official teaching of history in the 1960s. These scholars helped move the field beyond event-based analysis alone.
Jean-Marie Pesez renewed interest in methodology within medieval archeology. He created the idea of material culture as a distinct area of study. François Hartog serves as director of the ancient and modern historiography department today. He proposed that problems of modern time schema are not entirely caused by an imperialist past. Hartog is known for challenging Eurocentric reflection on history and the present. During the 1970s, EHESS became the center of New History. Jacques Le Goff and Pierre Nora influenced this movement. A generation of ethnologists worked under ideas from Georges Balandier and Marc Augé. They applied modern sociological concepts to third world countries. These scholars remained critical of the French colonial tradition throughout their careers.
EHESS has always been a central place for economic debate in Europe. Jean Fourastié was one notable advisor who enjoyed a large media audience. Liberal and Marxist economists have had the chance to debate here. The diversity of viewpoints remains a priority for the institution. Since the 1970s and 1980s, focus shifted toward quantitative economics. Louis-André Gérard-Varet led classes during this transition period. Jean-Jacques Laffont and François Bourguignon also taught these courses. Roger Guesnerie initiated programs alongside them. They started the Paris School of Economics and the Toulouse School of Economics. Their work established Grequam at Aix-Marseille as well. Today, the school awards degrees through the Paris School of Economics.
The school maintains exchange programs with Oxford and Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Columbia University and Yale University host students from the United States. Programs exist with the University of California and the University of Michigan. Heidelberg University in Germany participates in these exchanges. Tokyo and Kyoto universities in Japan maintain partnerships. Peking University in China is another key partner. The European University Institute in Florence, Italy, collaborates closely. Research centers on Asian Studies and Islamic Studies operate across continents. Exchange programs extend to universities in Asia and the Middle East. Since 2014, it has been an associated member of the Paris Research University. These connections support joint research units with the CNRS.
Pierre Bourdieu, Luc Boltanski, Alain Touraine, and Jean-Claude Passeron have all been associated with EHESS. Jacques Derrida and Catherine Malabou are notable philosophers who taught here. Thomas Piketty serves as a prominent economist within the faculty. The institution admits students based on relevance of their research project. Scholars choose their own curriculum among fields like history or sociology. Eight hundred thirty researchers work alongside three thousand students. This creates a student-faculty ratio of twenty-seven point six percent. Most faculty belong to other institutions such as the French National Centre for Scientific Research. Degrees are awarded jointly with École normale supérieure and École polytechnique. The school functions as a graduate grande école focused on academic research.
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Common questions
When did the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences gain autonomy?
The School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences gained autonomy on the 23rd of January 1975. It operated as Section VI of the École pratique des hautes études until that date.
Who founded the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences and when?
Lucien Febvre took the head of the newly formed section in 1947 after the Rockefeller Foundation supported its creation through initiatives dating back to the 1920s. The department was originally created in 1868 to train academic researchers.
What is the student-faculty ratio at the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences?
Eight hundred thirty researchers work alongside three thousand students at the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences. This creates a student-faculty ratio of twenty-seven point six percent.
Which universities partner with the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences?
The school maintains exchange programs with Oxford University, Cambridge University, Columbia University, Yale University, Heidelberg University, Tokyo University, Kyoto University, Peking University, and the European University Institute. These connections support joint research units with the CNRS since 2014.
How did the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences influence historical analysis in France?
Scholars like Lucien Febvre and Fernand Braudel helped move the field beyond event-based analysis alone during the interwar period. Their influence began shaping official teaching of history in the 1960s while critics reproached them for ignoring politics.