10:54 p.m., March 5, 2022
In the corridors of Sciences-Po Grenoble, it is a feeling that is now unanimous: weariness. Students, teachers, management; pro- or anti-Kinzler, named after this German professor at the heart of the affair which has shaken the Institute of Political Studies (IEP) since December 2020, all aspire to calm. Wednesday, the six « sages » – renowned academics, specialists in the fight against racism or crisis management – appointed at the end of January to work on the “restoration of a serene climate” are expected in the establishment. Over the months, the IEP, which, like nine other higher education establishments of this type across France, trains the decision-makers of tomorrow, has become, despite itself, a textbook case.
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The first chapter of this story is written on the occasion of a debate between Klaus Kinzler and the historian Claire Marynower on the advisability of attaching the word “Islamophobia” In terms “anti-Semitism” and ” racism “ in the title of a working group. In the midst of a pandemic, the exchange takes place in writing, which deprives intonations and hardens postures, with eight students as witnesses. The first odd in a long series. The case is just as much about the sensitive nature of the subject as about its protagonists. Kinzler, described as “charming and cultured”has built up over his twenty-six years at Sciences-Po a reputation as a provocative, humorous ” limit “ and fragile mental health. Seconded from National Education, associate professor when his colleagues are teacher-researchers, he feels despised by Claire Marynower’s response. “She sent me back to my commercial café”he judges.
anonymous students
Hurt, Kinzler retorts sharply and expounds on Islam, a religion for which he has no “no sympathy”, while specifying that his son was born of his union with a Tunisian of the Muslim faith. Comments taken up and truncated by a group of anonymous students active on social networks under the pseudonym “Sciences-Po Grenoble in the fight”who sees it as an example of“Islamophobia”. Some of them belong to the Union Syndicale – since dissolved – whose president, Thomas Mandroux, has promised to do battle with management since a dispute. At the head of the IEP, Sabine Saurugger does not perceive the flammable nature of the controversy.
This incident comes as ministers Frédérique Vidal and Jean-Michel Blanquer castigate the“Islamo-leftism” at University ; convergence, real or supposed, between the extreme left and political Islam, and its extension, for some, to Wokismthis movement which consists of taking into account discrimination linked to religion, gender and sexual preferences. “The temptation was great to think that this is what was happening at the IEPobserves Simon Godard, Director of Studies. There was a concordance of times between our news and national news. »
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In early 2021, the Union Syndicale asked students on Facebook to testify about “problematic talk” held by certain professors in connection with Islam: Klaus Kinzler and Vincent Tournier are targeted, who teaches a course on the issues of Islam in French society and defended his German colleague in the affair of the emails. Kinzler is angry with management for not having informed him of the existence of such a call, which claims to have dealt with this subject “in the instances provided for”.
On February 26, after a long debate on sexual violence, Kinzler explains to the students that only tasting a beer allowed him to « supporter [leur] unbearable logorrhea ». The next day, learning that the participants were shocked, he wrote to them “humor alert” and “hello to our little budding Ayatollahs”concluding: “A teacher in struggle, Nazi by his genes, Islamophobic repeat offender. »” It was a joke, he defends himself. Abolishing the right to laugh is a bad sign. »
The machine is launched and leads, on March 4, to the sticking of posters on the walls of the IEP: next to the names of the two professors, the mention “fascists” is affixed. The episode puts everyone in agreement for a brief moment: the gesture is widely condemned. The investigation, still ongoing, has not identified the perpetrators. Many believe that they are strangers to Sciences-Po. In fact, the IEP is the only one of the ten institutes to be located at the heart of a university campus, with greater porosity of people and ideas.
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The fact remains that, in the fall of 2021, the 17 IEP students who relayed the accusations of Islamophobia go before a disciplinary committee, relocated to Clermont-Ferrand to ease tensions. Relaxed. “They then acquired a feeling of impunity”assures Kinzler, who then describes the IEP in the press as a “rehabilitation institute”resulting in his suspension for four months.
“We forgot the 1970s”
The IEP, laboratory of Wokism where speech would be confiscated? A glance at the research carried out by teachers shows that few work on these social issues. “Students ask us to take precautions in how to approach certain themes, explains Simon Persico, specialist in political parties. It is their right and it is our duty to tell them what is acceptable. »
Sent by the Ministry of Higher Education, two inspectors note however that a small group maintains at the IEP a climate “deleterious”.“It does not happen in the hallways but on social networks, and it is violent”says a young woman. “On discrimination, secularism or sexual violence, a minority of students are offended by those who think otherwise, analyzes political scientist Olivier Costa, head of the committee of wise men. They must be made to understand the difference between knowledge and opinion, knowledge and belief. This is not specific to the IEP. »
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People no longer have opinions, beliefs, but identities
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Committed teachers and young activists? ” Nothing new under the sun, scoffs a researcher. The fall of the USSR relegated ideologies; they are back and it feels like new. We forgot the 1970s. The noticeable difference is that in this generation commitment touches on identity. “People no longer have opinions, beliefs, but identities, observe Olivier Costa. However, contrary to an opinion, an identity cannot be discussed. »
With the departure of some of the most active students, the atmosphere has changed. The management sent a vast questionnaire to the students to inquire about their condition and is leading discussions, in particular on freedom of expression and the use of social networks. Everyone wants to come out on top. “Since we are already a textbook case, observes a teacher, I might as well find solutions that will be useful to other universities. »
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