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Henri Bergeron

CNRS Research Professor, HDR, Dean of the School of Public Affairs, Holder of the Chair in Work and Organisational Change, Dean of the School of Public Affairs

Centre for the Sociology of Organisations (CSO), European Chair for Sustainable Development and Climate Transition, School of Public Affairs, The Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Evaluation of Public Policies (LIEPP)

Research Interest(s): Public policies, Institutional entrepreneurship, Organization and health

Discipline(s): Sociology

Research Group(s): Health Policies; Public Policy and Transformations of the State; Governance and Economic Organisations; Knowledge, Science and Expertise Program

Biography

Henri Bergeron continues his research on health policies and changes in medical practices and the medical profession by studying various topics: illicit drugs, alcohol, obesity, medical research, and public health.

He draws on the tools of the sociology of public action, social movements, and above all the sociology of organizations to account for the dynamics at work in the processes of shaping public policy and in those that drive the reconfiguration of organizational and institutional fields. He is particularly interested in the links between knowledge, expertise, and politics; the digital transformation of organizations and organized fields; and, more generally, institutional change.

Listen to the “Objets Trouvés” podcast with Henri Bergeron: The Dynamics of Collective Action in Public Policy

EDUCATION

  • DEA - Sociology of Organizations, Sciences Po Paris - Paris Institute of Political Studies (1990)
  • HDR - Title: “Institutional Entrepreneurship and Social Structures,” Sciences Po (2018)
  • Ph.D. - Doctoral Dissertation in Sociology: “Caring for or Treating Drug Addicts: Anatomy of a Collective Belief,” Sciences Po Paris – Paris Institute of Political Studies (1997)

Projects

  • ALLIANCE: Experts
  • Expertise and Professional Identity
  • A Sociological Analysis of Eau de Paris
  • ANSM—An Agency in Its Environment
  • The Organizational Making of the Bureaucratic State: Institutional Work,
  • Institutional Entrepreneurs, and Institutional Change in Two Policy Fields: Economics and Health

Teaching

Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po)

  • Instructor for “Institutional Analysis of Organizations,” Sciences Po–Max Planck Institute doctoral seminar (20 hours). Taught in English. (since 2012).
  • Instructor for “Theories of Organizations” in the core curriculum for all Sciences Po master’s programs (24 hours). (since 2012) .
  • Coordinator of the sociological research project for the Master’s in Organizations and Human Resource Management (over 50 hours). With C. Dequecker (since 2016).
  • Instructor (“Leadership and Organization”) in the first year (M1) of the Master’s in Public Policy (24 hours). With P. Castel (since 2016).
  • Instructor for “Sociology of Organizations and Collective Action” in the Master’s program in Sociology of Action. With P. Castel and O. Borraz (since 2008).
  • Instructor for “Introduction to Sociology—Epistemological Issues” in the second year. With A. Chenu and P. François (2008–2010).
  • Instructor for “Political Sociology of Health” in the second year. With P. Castel (2012–2016).
  • Instructor for “Understanding Complex Organizations” in the Master’s in Public Affairs program. With E. Friedberg, taught in English (2008–2013).
  • Lecturer for “International Public Health” in the Master of Public Affairs program. With P. Castel. Taught in English (2009–2013).
  • Lecturer for “Politics of Public Health” as part of the Sciences Po–Northwestern University dual degree program (4 to 6 hours per year, depending on the year). Taught in English (2009–2018).

Paris I-Sorbonne University

  • Instructor for the course “Sociological Approaches to Public Policy” in the Research Master’s program in Economics, “Public Decisions, Institutions, and Organizations” (2007–2010).
  • Instructor for “Sociological Approaches to Public Policy” in the Master’s program in Public Law (2009–2015).
  • Instructor for “Sociology of Public Action” in the Master’s program in Public Law (2008–2015).

School of Advanced Studies in Public Health

  • Instructor for the course “Sociological Approaches to Health” in the Master’s program in Public Health (2008–2014).

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

Scientific Activities and Professional Responsibilities

Current Professional Responsibilities

  • National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) – Sciences Po. 

1. Dean of the School of Public Affairs at Sciences Po.
2. Research Director at the Center for the Sociology of Organizations (CSO – Sciences Po). 
3. Holder of the “Transformation of Organizations and Work” Chair at Sciences Po. Partners: Orange, VYV Group, CNSA, and the Ministry of Transformation and the Civil Service. Since 2022.
4. Presses de Sciences Po: Director of the “Health” series. Since 2011.
5. Presses de Sciences Po: Director of the “Work” series (with Pauline Barraud de Lagerie and Patrick Castel). Since 2017. 
7. Member of the Editorial Board of “Tribunes de la santé.” Since 2020.
8. Member of the Editorial Board of the “Journal of Organizational Sociology.” Since 2022.  

  • Ministry of Public Service and Civil Service Reform: Appointed member of the Strategic Steering Committee. Since 2021.
  • Ministry of Health: Member of the History Committee, chaired by Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin. Since 2024.
    ARS Guyane: Member of the Scientific Committee. Since 2024.
  • Laboratoire d’Idées Santé Autonomie (LISA – Think Tank): Member of the Executive Board. Since 2022.

Previous Professional Responsibilities

  • European Research Council: Chair of an ERC “Starting Grant” panel in the Social Sciences and Humanities (SHS) in 2016–2017 and 2018–2019. Appointed member of the “Environment, Space, and Population” panel for the evaluation of the “Consolidator Grant” in 2013 and 2015.
  • Sciences Po: Founder and Director of the Executive Master of Public Administration (E MPA). Since 2024–2025.
  • Sciences Po: Director of the Master’s program in “Human Resources and Sustainable Governance.” From 2010 to 2025.
  • Sciences Po: Co-Director of the “Health Track” at the Interdisciplinary Laboratory for the Evaluation of Public Policies (LIEPP). From 2012 to 2025.
  • Sciences Po: Scientific Director of the “Management and Public Affairs” specialization at Sciences Po’s School of Public Affairs. 2017–2024.
  • Sciences Po: Scientific Coordinator of the Sciences Po–FNSP Health Chair. 2007–2024.
  • Sciences Po: Chair of the jury for the “Penser le travail –Sciences Po–Le Monde” Award. Since 2015–2025
  • Sciences Po: Director of the Executive Master’s program in “Public Policy Management.” From 2016 to 2024.
  • European Union Drug Agency, Lisbon: Elected member and vice-chair of the Scientific Council.
  • French Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (OFDTO); Appointed member of the Scientific Council. From 2012 to 2017 and from 2024 to 2025.
  • National Commission on Ethics and Whistleblowing in Public Health and the Environment: Appointed member. From 2020 to 2025.
  • Ministry of National Education: Member of the Public Health Agrégation examination board. From 2022 to 2024.
  • Steering Committee for the Evaluation of the National Health Strategy: Appointed member. From 2021 to 2023.
  • National Foundation for Political Science: Elected member of the Board of Directors. From 2016 to 2020.
  • Paris-Sorbonne-Cité University: Elected member of the Academic Council. From 2015 to 2019.
  • Public Health Research Center, Luxembourg: Member of the Board of Directors. From 2015 to 2016.
  • Virchow-Villermé Center: Member of the Steering Committee. From 2014 to 2017.
  • Institute for Public Health Research (IReSP). Member of the Steering Committee. From 2009 to 2016.
  • DIM Obesity: Member of the Board of Directors. From 2012 to 2016.
  • Institute of Public Health (IMTO IST INSERM): Member of the Director’s Advisory Committee. From 2011 to 2015.
  • National Health Conference: Alternate Member, representing research organizations under the “Alliance for the Humanities and Social Sciences.” From 2011 to 2014.
  • Public Health Paris – University of Paris: Member of the Steering Committee. From 2020 to 2024.

publications

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