Dominique Reynié (born 17 June 1960, Rodez, France) is a French academic. He is a professor of political science at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po Paris).Dominique REYNIÉ
Biography Education
Dominique Reynié graduated from Sciences Po Paris in 1983, where he also presented a master thesis in political science in 1984. In 1994, within the same institution, he became a doctor of political science. His thesis was directed by Jean Leca, on the theme: The Democratic Order: The Practical Foundations of a Democratic-type Mass Policy.Dominique Reynié,L'avènement du populisme patrimonial, le Monde, 7 avril 2011 He earned his Agrégation of political science (French academic certification) in 1997.
University career
After obtaining his doctorate in 1994, Dominique Reynié held a research position at the Center for Studies of French Politics (Cevipof), where he became a research associate in 1997. He held his first position as University Professor of Political Science at the University of Nice - Sophia Antipolis between 1997 and 1999, before returning to teach at Sciences Po Paris.
In Sciences Po, he led the Interregional Observatory of Politics2005 : De l’Observatoire Interrégional du Politique (OIP) au Centre de Données Socio-Politiques (CDSP), Sciences Po, 2005 (Observatoire interrégional du politique) from 2002 to 2005, where he contributed to the publication of a regional level barometer, known as “Le baromètre du fait régional”.Le baromètre du fait régional, Persee, 2004 He was also director of Sciences Po's master's degree in marketing from 1999 to 2006.
Close advisor to Richard Descoings (director of Sciences Po between 1996 and 2012), Reynié suggested in 1998 that Descoings set up a form of positive discrimination in the Sciences Po entrance examination. This pioneering measure in France was implemented starting 2001 onwards, with the creation of a specific selection process for students from underprivileged areas (French “Priority Education Zones”, also known by the acronym ZEP). This anecdote was lifted off of journalist Raphaëlle Bacqué's portrait of the former Sciences Po director, titled "Richie", a nickname given to Descoings.Richard Descoings, ombre et lumière, les Echos, may 15, 2015
In the summer of 2012, after the death of Sciences Po director, Richard Descoings, Dominique Reynié was a candidate to take over management of the institution, and was one of five short-listed, along with Gilles Andréani, Hervé Crès, Jean-Michel Blanquer and Frédéric Mion (who was appointed).Sciences Po: les candidats à la direction passent l'«oral», le Figaro, July 16, 2012
At Sciences Po, as part of the "political theory" dimension of the school's master's degree in Political Science, he currently leads a course dedicated to the new framework surrounding State Rationality, within the context of the GAFAM era (Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, Microsoft).Les nouvelles logiques de l’Etat Dominique REYNIE , Sciences Po, 2017/2018 Within the doctoral school, he co-hosts a seminar with Elisabeth de Castex on "The Human Condition in the era of N.B.I.C” (nanotechnology, biology, computing and cognitive science).La condition humaine à l’heure des N.B.I.C., Sciences Po, January 2018 He also teaches a course on the genealogy of the European idea. Reynié remains a research associate at Cevipof.
Since 1997, Dominique Reynié has been a regular contributor to the media. He publishes editorials in Le Figaro, Le Monde or Libération. In 2011 and 2012, he holds a weekly chronicle on France Culture radio entitled “The World According to Dominique Reynié”.Le Monde selon Dominique Reynié | 11-12, France Culture
Foundation for Political Innovation (Fondation pour l’innovation politique)
In October 2008, Dominique Reynié succeeded Franck Debié as Director General of the Foundation for Political Innovation (Fondation pour l’innovation politique, also known as Fondapol), a think tank founded in 2004 which, at the time of its creation, was close to the political party UMP (Union for a Popular Movement, which later became known as The Republicans-LR). Under his leadership, the think tank now asserts itself as "liberal, progressive and European".Les think tanks, des idées en l'air, le Monde, January 8, 2012
Expert on political, economic and social issues, he takes part in the work of the Observatory of the Decentralization of the Senate, and contributes in particular to the report "Being Locally Elected Today: Adapting our Local Governance to the Challenge of Decentralization", published in 2007.Etre élu local aujourd'hui : adapter notre gouvernance locale au défi de la Décentralisation, french Senate
In 2010, he spoke before the Observatory as part of an information mission on political polls.Sondages et démocratie : pour une législation plus respectueuse de la sincérité du débat politique, french Senate Reynié is also a member of the National Consultative Commission on Human Rights.Arrêté du 10 novembre 2005 relatif à la composition de la Commission nationale consultative des droits de l’homme, Legifrance, November 11, 2005
In 2010, with the Foundation for Political Innovation, he participated in the creation of the Think Tanks Forum, a meeting which is open to the public and convenes prominent French think tanks at the Sorbonne University, to discuss major contemporary economic and social issues.
In 2012 he was a member of the "Visitors Program" of the BEPA (Bureau of European Policy Advisers).
Political life
Dominique Reynié was a candidate to lead the Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées region's joint list representing both the LR and UDI parties, during the regional elections of December 2015.Le politologue Dominique Reynié vise la grande région, la Dépêche, April 5, 2015 On April 25, 2015, he was named against Bernard Carayon, after the fourth round of a vote by a "committee of the wise" composed of 40 local and national elected representatives.Le politologue Dominique Reynié conduira la liste de droite aux Régionales, Midi Libre, April 25, 2015
In October 2015, his eligibility is questioned by Jean-Pierre Grand, Senator LR, for a domiciliation issue.Régionales : "Je suis parfaitement éligible", se défend Dominique Reynié, France TV Info, October 25, 2015
In the first round, he obtains 18.84% of the votes, which puts him in third position behind Louis Aliot (National Front) 31.83% and Carole Delga (Socialist Party) 24.41%. In his home department, Aveyron, he is leading with 30.53% of the vote, ahead of Carole Delga (25.5%) and Louis Aliot (21.74%). On the second round of the regional election, his score is 21.32%, behind Carole Delga (44.8%) and Louis Aliot (33.9%).RÉSULTATS LÉGISLATIVES 2017 - LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON-MIDI-PYRÉNÉES, le Monde, 2017ELECTIONS RÉGIONALES-CORSE-TERRITORIALES du 06 Décembre 2015, Aveyron.gouv, December 6, 2015
He was elected chairman of the LR-UDI opposition group in the regional council with 20 votes (23 participants, 2 abstentions and 1 vote against).Dominique Reynié élu président du groupe LR-UDI au Conseil Régional, France Info - France 3 Occitanie, December 12, 2015 More than a year later, on May 27, 2016, his election was canceled by the Conseil d'État (State Council): Dominique Reynié was indeed a resident in the region as required by the electoral rules, but the date on his rental contract was considered too late when compared with the deadline for a candidate to be eligible for election in 2015. Dominique Reynié complied with the decision of the Conseil d’Etat.Le Conseil d'État annule l'élection de Dominique Reynié aux régionales 2015, HuffPost, may 27, 2016
He later told the newspaper La Depêche: "What finally hurt me the most is that it publicly challenges my origins in Aveyron. I was born there, my father is buried there. It's my home, and where my roots are."Dominique Reynié : « J'ai été victime d'une conjuration d'intrigants », la Dépêche, June 6, 2016
He was replaced at his seat by the Mayor of Millau, Christophe Saint-Pierre.
Public policy positions and work Economic and social liberalism
Dominique Reynié claims a liberal position,Dominique Reynié : « La politique française est caractérisée par l’absence d’option libérale », Contrepoints, September 22, 2014 he is particularly in favor of individual liberties and a limitation of the intervention of the State in the economic and social life of individuals.
In this regard, he supported for example the draft reform of the Labor Code of the Government of Manuel Valls (El Khomri law) by launching a petition on February 26, 2016.Droit du travail : une contre-pétition pour soutenir la loi El Khomri, France Info, February 26, 2016 He also supports same-sex marriage, and the liberalization of access to medically assisted reproduction and gestational surrogacy.Dominique Reynié : encadrer la GPA et la PMA dans une vraie politique de la vie, le Figaro, October 3, 2014
In 2011, under his direction, the Foundation for Political Innovation published "12 ideas for 2012" which is presented in multiple concrete proposals and which, in his words, would "redefine a society’s vision". In this document, the Foundation was particularly in favor of same-sex marriage as well as adoption by same-sex couples, the introduction of VAT to combat the relocation of companies outside France, the development of online commerce, the sale of non-prescription drugs in supermarkets, a better evaluation of public services, a massive investment in R&D within the energy sector, the development of open data and open government, and redesigning the educational system for more equal opportunities, or a better policy for cultural diversity.
Populism
Dominique Reynié studies and describes the growing phenomena of populism and nationalism, particularly in reaction to globalization and with respect to the increased economic competition that it generates.Dominique Reynié : "Face à la mondialisation, la réponse que les Européens attendent ne vient pas", Toute l'Europe, April 11, 2007
He also coined the concept of "patrimonial populism", a phenomenon he describes as "the political exploitation of the fear of losing one’s tangible and intangible heritage".Dominique Reynié : «Le rapport désinvolte à la frontière est la faute historique des responsables européens», le Figaro, March 5, 2018 According to him, a "part of Europeans now lives with the fear of a collective downgrade, a fear which could be combined with that of a personal downgrade".Dominique Reynié : "Le populisme, symptôme d'une crise historique", le JDD, December 28, 2014Le «nouveau populisme» ratisse large, Libération, April 19, 2011 Dominique Reynié contemplates the strengthening of a "European public power" and the reaffirmation of Europe's borders as one of the possible answers to the rise of populism in Europe.
On the topic, he has published two major books : Populisms: the Fatal Slope, in 2011, and The New Populisms, in 2013.
Recomposition of the political landscape
In France, with the election of Emmanuel Macron as President of the Republic, Dominique Reynié believes that the traditional political parties "are dying because they have become machines without soul or breath". The researcher believes that it is no longer the political parties that are the cement of the left-right divide but values anchored in French society that remain divisive despite the gradual disappearance of political parties.Clivage gauche-droite : «Les individus ne croient plus aux partis», selon Dominique Reynié, le Parisien, January 28, 2018
Demography and migration policy