In the heart of Europe : a life story

"Bolle De Bal" narrated: an attempt to provide some answers to the questions raised by those who bear or will bear this original name, and even by some people intrigued by it.Memories of my life: because, at the end of more than half a century of research in the field of human sciences, I came to the conclusion that the most promising method to give an account of existential realities in sociology was that of "life stories". As these memories unfolded, I preferred, for the sake of precision and modesty, to adopt the expression " memories of my life ".Evolution of society : I hesitated for a long time to use this expression, which corresponds to my sensitivity as a sociologist. Indeed, I gradually became aware that, on the one hand, I had neither the leisure nor the means to deal with "the" society in general - which would only be of limited interest - and that, on the other hand, "my" society, the one that has accompanied and permeated my entire life experience, in fact comprised three essential and complementary dimensions: Belgian, European and global.

Autorentext

Marcel Bolle De Bal, born in Schaerbeek (Brussels, Belgium) on 29 July 1930, is a Belgian sociologist and psychosociologist, professor emeritus of the Université Libre de Bruxelles, honorary president of the Association Internationale des Sociologues de Langue Française, and a former municipal councillor of and in Linkebeek (1965-1973 and 1989-2000).