Construction of the actor "enemy" and concentration institution : comparative study between the Rivesaltes camp (under Vichy) and Belene (Popular Republic of Bulgaria)

The present sociological study examines the construction of the "enemy" within the concentration camp, an absolute social institution, through the comparison of two forms, taken in their different social, national, ideological and state context – on one hand, the camp of Rivesaltes and the French government and, on the other hand, the camp of Belene and the People's Republic of Bulgaria. Both institutions are analyzed with the assumption of "difference of degree," developed by the concept of "singularity " and " plurality " which allows to identify them in their political dimension as well as on the concrete institutional level.This study deals with the construction of the specific figure the "enemy" as a social actor starting from the social and political level and getting to the everyday life in both concentration camp forms. We analyzed the enemy figure, at first as a product of a dynamic facing a fundamental social transformation. We also took into account the main reasons of concentration forms occurrence as an integral part of this " social project ", and then we have analyzed the aforementioned reasons through everyday life.The camp institution has assured itself a degree of stability that has allowed it to fulfill its function in the dynamic transformation of society. This stability is ensured by the involvement of the individual in a series of circles, his submission to a specific form of power which transforms soundly his personal character and adjoin to his human being condition, but also defines him as an actor in a particular interactional universe. Finally, what is the role of the actor "enemy" in concentration camp life and what interactions different actors in the camps establish between themselves?

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Source https://theses.hal.science/tel-00953545
Author Gruev, Radoslav
Maintainer CCSD
Last Updated May 6, 2026, 04:57 (UTC)
Created May 6, 2026, 04:57 (UTC)
Identifier NNT: 2013PA05H011
Language fr
Rights https://about.hal.science/hal-authorisation-v1/
contributor Groupe d'étude pour l'Europe de la culture et de la solidarité (GEPECS) ; Université Paris Descartes - Paris 5 (UPD5)
creator Gruev, Radoslav
date 2013-11-08T00:00:00
harvest_object_id 752e1e7c-e950-4b8f-b9cd-f781a007f1e1
harvest_source_id 3374d638-d20b-4672-ba96-a23232d55657
harvest_source_title test moissonnage SELUNE
metadata_modified 2026-03-31T00:00:00
set_spec type:THESE