The Prix Biguet 2025 winner Gisèle Sapiro focuses her research on the intellectual field, the international circulation of ideas, and the sociological study of French literature. Her extensive body of work, spanning the 19th to the 21st centuries, builds upon the foundational sociological theories of Pierre Bourdieu, examining how culture, language, and politics intersect in the modern era.
Academic Foundation and Affiliations
Born in 1965 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, Sapiro completed her education at Tel Aviv University and the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS), where she earned her doctorate. Her professional career is anchored at the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the EHESS. At the latter institution, she has served as a director of studies since 2011. Between 2010 and 2013, she directed the European Centre for Sociology and Political Science (CESSP), formerly known as the Centre de sociologie européenne.
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Sapiro’s scholarship investigates the writer’s responsibility within society. Her 2018 publication, Les Écrivains et la politique en France, analyzes the role of authors from the Dreyfus Affair through the Algerian War. She explores the notion that contemporary literature functions as a site for social and political criticism. Her research also extends to the mechanics of global publishing and the translation market, as detailed in works such as Le marché de la traduction en France à l'heure de la mondialisation.
Recognition and Professional Standing
Throughout her career, Sapiro has received significant recognition from the French scientific community. She was awarded the CNRS Bronze Medal in 2000 and subsequently received the CNRS Silver Medal in 2021. She is also a member of the Academia Europaea and serves as a consulting editor for the Journal of the History of Ideas. Her work addresses contemporary dilemmas, such as the tension between an author’s life and their creative output, as examined in her 2020 essay, Peut-on dissocier l'œuvre de l'auteur?
Fast facts
- Born: 1965, Neuilly-sur-Seine
- Citizenship: France
- Academic Degree: Doctorate
- CNRS Bronze Medal: 2000
- CNRS Silver Medal: 2021
- Prix Biguet: 2025
- Member of: Academia Europaea
- Field of Work: Sociology of culture
Questions readers ask
What is the focus of Gisèle Sapiro's research?
Her work focuses on the sociology of culture, specifically examining the intellectual field, the international circulation of ideas, and the socio-political role of writers.
With which institutions is she affiliated?
She is associated with the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS).
Achievements
- CNRS bronze medal — 2000
- CNRS silver medal — 2021
- Held posts at School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences, National Center for Scientific Research and Délégation Paris-Centre (DR2)
- Fields: sociology of culture
