[Table ronde n°2] Gestion des crises et gouvernance de l'inattendu

[Table ronde n°2] Gestion des crises et gouvernance de l'inattendu

by École normale supérieure - PSL

Humanities, Social Sciences & Thought Politics & Institutions JPPolitics and governmentJPPPublic administration
🎙 École normale supérieure - PSL 👥 75K 📅 March 24, 2026 ⏱ 64 min 👁 214 📄 debate 🧭 2026-08-03
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

crisisgovernanceunexpectedriskcoordination

Summary

This roundtable discussion, part of a colloquium on risk and crisis, brings together three experts: Olivier Borraz (sociologist, CNRS), Mathieu Corteel (philosopher and historian of science), and Véronique de Geoffroy (director of Groupe URD). The moderator, J. Verlin, introduces the theme: governing crises and the unexpected. Olivier Borraz argues that crisis management has become a technology of government, emerging in the early 2000s as a response to the limits of risk analysis. He links this to the rise of ‘hyper-organization’ in society, where the proliferation of organizations creates coordination problems that crisis management attempts to regulate. Mathieu Corteel critiques the tendency to quantify and model crises, drawing on the sorites paradox to show that crises are not simply the sum of risks. He emphasizes the organizational dimension of crises, which disrupt routines and internal functioning. Véronique de Geoffroy, drawing on her humanitarian experience, discusses the challenges of crisis response in international contexts, highlighting issues of localisation, decoloniality, and mutual aid. The discussion touches on the paradoxes of crisis governance, the role of anticipation, and the need for adaptive approaches. The panel concludes that crisis management is both a symptom and a regulatory mechanism of hyper-organized societies, and that governing the unexpected requires moving beyond purely quantitative models.

207 words

Critical Evaluation

The roundtable offers a rich, interdisciplinary exploration of crisis governance, drawing on sociology, philosophy of science, and humanitarian practice. Olivier Borraz provides a compelling sociological analysis, tracing the historical emergence of crisis management as a ’technology of government’ and linking it to the concept of ‘hyper-organization’. His argument that crisis management has become a routine mode of regulation, even in the absence of an actual triggering event (as with the Paris 2024 Olympics), is insightful and well-supported by his research. Mathieu Corteel brings a valuable philosophical perspective, critiquing the over-reliance on quantification and modeling in crisis anticipation. His use of the sorites paradox effectively illustrates the fallacy of assuming that managing individual risks equates to managing a crisis. However, his points could have been developed further with concrete examples. Véronique de Geoffroy grounds the discussion in practical humanitarian experience, highlighting the importance of localisation and mutual aid, but her contributions are somewhat brief compared to the others. The discussion is intellectually stimulating, but it remains at a relatively high level of abstraction. The speakers do not provide specific case studies or empirical data to substantiate their claims, which limits the practical applicability of the insights. The sources cited are limited to institutional links (ENS, LinkedIn, YouTube), with no direct references to academic literature or reports. The title accurately reflects the content, and the roundtable format allows for a dynamic exchange of ideas. Overall, the video is a valuable contribution to the discourse on crisis governance, but it would benefit from more concrete examples and references to enhance its rigor.

259 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content: a roundtable discussion on crisis management and governance of the unexpected.

Quality & Reliability

8/10

The roundtable features recognized academics and practitioners (sociologist, philosopher/historian of science, humanitarian director) discussing crisis governance. The discussion is grounded in research and practical experience, with references to concepts like 'hyper-organization' and the 'sorites paradox'. However, no specific sources are cited in the video, and the format is a debate, not a peer-reviewed presentation.

Key Moments

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

Cited Sources

  • ENS-PSL official website — Institutional link provided in the video description.
  • ENS-PSL LinkedIn page — Institutional link provided in the video description.
  • ENS-PSL YouTube channel — Institutional link provided in the video description.

Concurring Sources

  • The Governance of Risk — Academic literature on risk governance, aligning with Borraz's discussion.

Dissenting Sources

Contribution & Novelties

The roundtable provides a novel interdisciplinary perspective on crisis governance, integrating sociological analysis of organizational dynamics with philosophical critiques of quantification and practical humanitarian insights. It highlights the paradox of governing the unexpected and the need to move beyond risk-based models.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • Sorites paradox — Relevant to Corteel’s argument about the fallacy of aggregating risks.
  • Hyperorganization — Concept discussed by Borraz, though the Wikipedia page may be limited.
  • Crisis management — General overview of the field.
  • Humanitarian localisation — Relevant to de Geoffroy’s points on aid localisation.

91 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows high scores in quantity and quality of information, with a moderate technical level. The discussion is rich in ideas but lacks concrete data, resulting in a balanced but not exceptional profile.

Reliability 8/10