Les Nouveaux Intellos Precaires

Temporary workers in the media or in publishing; disposable lecturers and researchers, underpaid architects and museum employees; since 2001, and the release of Anne and Marine Rambach's first book on the topic, this phenomenon has a name: the Intellos précaires or 'intellectual labour precarity'. In that first volume, we learnt about the paradoxical destiny of this population: well educated and competent, studious and creative, living, quite contentedly in certain cases, in very precarious conditions - insecure future, fluctuating salaries and limited access to state support. Those who belong to the world of 'intellectual labour precarity' have chosen their profession in spite of this, because they are passionate about their field. Their disappearance had been announced: the generation of the baby-boomers was now retiring, and their jobs and middle-class social status would be out for grabs. It was not to be. The posts were not renewed, in particular because both the public and the private sectors had become used to the advantages of a flexible and economical work force. Precarity is thriving.
The situation of the intello précaire has in fact become the unacknowledged model. It is not described as insecure, but as 'independent'; it is not synonymous with lack of rights, but with professionalism; it is not under-paid, but part of a competitive market force. Even when it belongs to the left, it is ultra-liberal.
One question remains however: since the unions are not defending them and the private and public sectors have established them as their ideal, how deep into poverty and lack of rights will the Intellos précaires fall?
As the academic, research and media sectors as well as the written press are being reformed, the Intellos précaires are at the heart of the current social and cultural debates. Do they even know it? What do they then think about it? Will they ever be given a voice?

In 2001, Anne and Marine Rambach's successful Intellos précaires had met with instant interest and contributed to raise awareness on the problem. With this second volume, they establish themselves as wonderful scenario writers, including, in Anne Rambach's case, of thriller scenarios. Theirs is a deep and fascinating enquiry into an extremely topical subject.

En 2001, Anne et Marine Rambach avaient rencontré un vif écho avec leurs Intellos précaires. Depuis, elles s’affirment comme auteures de scénarios et, pour Anne Rambach, de thriller. Elles nous livrent ici une enquête fouillée et impertinente, dont l’actualité est évidente.