Loyauté ou exit de collaborateurs d’élus français

L’influence de la (dés)obéissance sur leurs trajectoires professionnelles

Abstract

This article is based on an immersive ethnographic research inside the French Parti socialiste, during which the author was hired as part of local elected representatives’ staff. It questions the reasons behind the decision to continue working with politicians, or on the contrary to exit all political-related job. In order to analyse the professional paths taken by staff members of elected representatives, it is necessary to have a look at their previous socializations and also at their possible future and professional advancement in the political sphere. The author will focus his demonstration on loyalty and compliance, two skills that are expected from any political staff member, and he will show how the proximity to the political sphere is influenced by past experiences and primary and secondary socialization, which also enable various degrees of understanding and complying to the political rules. The author will then focus on the staff members who decide to exit: the imperviousness of the social spheres they belong to, as well as the existence of other professional opportunities, will allow to achieve a better understanding of their broken and unfinished political career paths.