NCube/papyrus huggingface dataset:
Galactic ecofeminism and posthuman transcendence : the tentative utopias of Octavia E. Butler's Lilith's Brood

In Octavia E. Butler's alien invasion trilogy Lilith's Brood, peaceable aliens known as the Oankali arrive on an earth recently ravaged by nuclear warfare. Their aim is to save the planet and its surviving humans, eventually putting into place a breeding program that will combine both species into one hybridized life form. In the pursuit of this goal they enlist the help of a human woman, Lilith Iyapo, who they hope will facilitate their plans for species merging. The life they offer the human survivors is one free of the hatred and violence that led to earth's devastation, and their proposed venture bears the hallmarks of ecofeminist and posthuman utopia. This thesis examines the utopian potential of the Oankali's plans, using the critical analysis of ecofeminists Carol J. Adams and Vandana Shiva, and posthuman scholars Donna Haraway and Rosi Braidotti. The Oankali's promised paradise, however, remains out of reach as long as the surviving humans are robbed of their agency; struggle against the Oankali's uncompromising plans is essential. Two of Lilith's half-alien children take up this responsibility, mounting an embodied political resistance as outlined by gender and sexuality theorists Susan Bordo and Judith Butler. Though in many ways the Oankali's plans are exploitative, recalling even a space-age reimagining of the transatlantic slave trade, the children's struggle against the Oankali order gives hope that reconciliation between humans and Oankali, and the utopian potential of this interspecies relationship, can be achieved.

Keyphrases: Octavia E. Butler, Lilith's Brood, Xenogenesis, posthumanism, ecofeminism, cyborg, science fiction, symbiogenesis
Raconter à la radio : la narration radiophonique chez Walter Benjamin

This master’s essay studies the shows on radio that philosopher and critic Walter Benjamin records from 1929 to 1933, echoing his conception of storytelling that takes form in his essay The Storyteller. Reflections on the Works of Nicolas Leskov (1936). While he concludes with the observation that storytelling is proving itself impossible as an activity for relating life stories, Benjamin indulges in the paradox when storytelling on the radio. Benjamin locates the daily difficulty of sharing our experiences by storytelling in the technological disruptions of his time as much as in a long historical transformation of the narrative forms linked to the media that support it. He demonstrates how technical medias transmitting our words have isolated epic truth from the spoken word. How then apprehend a modern medium like the radio, which reintroduces the voice while participating to the social atomization and acceleration of communication? Benjamin will take the microphone and experiments multiple forms of narrations for the purpose of making it an instrument of popular education. The study of the radiophonic scripts of his historical chronicles for children will show how he develops a modern structure of storytelling while borrowing aspects of the traditional one and accepting radio’s new conditions of orality. Driven by a pedagogic and political concern, he will not hesitate to play with the medium and tells the forgotten stories of marginal and historical voices. With his shows he creates a relation to history that is not abstract or impersonal but grounded in the contemporary experiences of the young auditory listening to him. We encounter the cleverness and inventiveness of a mind that became practical, and luminous.

Keyphrases: Walter Benjamin, Radio, Transmission, Mémoire collective, Orality, Collective memory, Storytelling, History, Philosophy, Literature
Women's decision-making autonomy and experience of intimate partner violence in sub-Saharan Africa : the role of partner's educational attainment

Studies on women’s autonomy and experience of intimate partner violence (IPV) often focus on the effects of women’s own education and other individual characteristics. This study goes beyond by considering the effects of partner’s educational attainment. It used individual data from recent Demographic and Health Surveys in six countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda). Using multivariate regression analysis, this study shows generally that partner’s education has a significant positive effect on women’s decision-making. For instance, we found that in Nigeria, even a partner’s primary education was associated with a significantly higher risk of women participating in more decisions (compared to partner’s having no education). However, in Kenya, partner’s primary and secondary education were associated with a higher risk of participating in fewer decisions (in 1-2 decisions vs. all three decisions). In relation to intimate partner physical violence, partner’s education level also shows different results. Partner’s education at all levels was associated with a significant lower risk of physical violence in Kenya. While in Nigeria, partner’s secondary education was associated with a significant higher risk of physical violence. In general, women’s own educational attainment appeared to be more significant in predicting higher levels of decision-making autonomy and was the most protective against physical violence in Kenya. These first results, while interesting prevent us from drawing a general picture of the effect of education in this context. Finally, interacting the partner’s educational attainment with women’s own educational attainment shows that partner’s higher education had both multiplicative and substitution effects for women’s decision-making autonomy. Overall, women whose partners have higher education were more likely to participate in more decisions regardless of their own educational attainment (substitution effect). Women in couples where both partners have higher education were most likely to participate in more decisions (multiplicative effect). In the case of violence, a more educated partner with a low educated woman was associated with the experience of physical violence, while higher education among women was associated with less violence. The general picture of this study illustrates that women whose partners are highly educated have higher participation in household decision-making but may be subject to violence if her own educational attainment is lower than that of her partner. This study highlights the necessity to challenge the norms surrounding women’s participation (in the family and iii community) and the need for more advocacy for the inclusion of men in public policy related to women’s empowerment.

Keyphrases: Women’s autonomy, Intimate partner violence, Partner’s educational attainment, Women’s educational attainment, Demographic and Health Survey, sub-Saharan Africa
Prévention de l’adhésion aux gangs de rue : l’expérience des jeunes participants

The interest of this study is street gang affiliation prevention in LaSalle and Saint- Michel neighborhoods. More precisely, we perform the qualitative evaluation of a intervention program implanted in two different sites; SORACOM (Saint-Michel) and LaSalle-Wrap (LaSalle). The thesis is part of a broader evaluation of the program that began in 2013 and which should be completed by 2018. The study is funded by Public Safety Canada (CNPC). The approach on which the program is based is inspired by other Canadian WrapAround experiences (Debicki, 2009). The study of the evaluation protocol prepared by Lafortune and his collaborators (2015a; 2015b) allowed to target one of its limits, the lack of consideration for the experience of participation in the program and the perceived effects on the youths risk level of affiliation to a street gang. In order to answer this limit, our goal is to understand and document the experience of participation in the LaSalle-Wrap and SORACOM projects on young boys at medium or high risk of adhesion to a street gang. Our analysis aims to : describe youths' motivation to participate in the project; collect their perception of the project and the process it implies; understand the link(s) between the choice of the project developed by the participants, the needs likely to be filled by the affiliation to a street gang and the evolution of the affiliation risk level; and document the impacts seen by youths in several life spheres after their participation. In order to meet our goals, we opted for a qualitative approach. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with youths in order to obtain their perception of their experience’s impacts on their motivation to join a street gang. The analysis of our data allowed to identify some differences perceived by youths regarding the project's context and approach of intervention, compared to other intervention services they know, as a source of motivation to persevere, particularly the relationship they develop with their WrapAround facilitator. The evolution of the youth’s street gang affiliation risk level during the process can be explained by several factors. Among others, the consideration for the youths' needs during the WrapAround planning phase and the development of personalized tools allows the youth to begin a process of change and, therefore, decrease its risk factors by working the youth’s and his/her family’s protective factors.

Keyphrases: Intervention, Impacts, Street gangs, Prevention, Adhesion, Youths, Delinquency, Intervention, Needs, Risk, Evaluation, Impacts
L’apparition de la délinquance et la réussite criminelle

The age at which an individual commits his first offense has received significant attention in the field of criminology and is considered one of the best predictors of future delinquency. Several studies have examined the relationship between the age of onset of offending and various parameters of the criminal career such as crime frequency, crime diversification, crime seriousness and crime duration. In addition to the study of mainstream criminal careers parameters, another research interest has emerged: the study of criminal success. From a sample of 169 inmates, this thesis proposes to reconsider the effect of the age of onset of delinquency, this time through the study of criminal success. Analyzes show that two indicators are particularly important in explaining criminal success: the age of onset of lucrative delinquency and the speed of transition into lucrative delinquency. Offenders who engage earlier and more quickly into lucrative crime will experience more criminal success.  In contrast, more traditional indicators of age at first offense (age at first self-reported and official offense) do not adequately explain criminal success. These results suggest adapting the specificity of the onset of delinquency to the types of criminal trajectories studied to better understand the effect of this predictor. In sum, it is not enough to examine when delinquency appears, but rather what characterizes this emergence of delinquency in order to understand its effect on future delinquency.

Keyphrases: criminal career, criminal trajectories, onset of delinquency, criminal success
L'effet de l'incarcération sur la trajectoire criminelle

The criminal career is defined by different factors (participation, frequency, duration and diversification), and these are likely to vary over time. Nevertheless, this criminal career can not be defined solely by these factors, it can also be influenced by the context in which the offender lives. It is for this reason that life course theories seem appropriate to analyze the evolution of criminal trajectories over time. However, few studies have studied these parameters empirically. Our research is based on longitudinal and retrospective data, which provides another method to better understand these developments. The purpose of this study is therefore to open a new approach and a better understanding of criminal trajectories and the effect of incarceration on them. Our research focuses specifically on pre- and post-incarceration crime over a 36-month period. 262 detainees with lucrative criminality were interviewed, 41 were selected because they had pre and post incarceration. We first observed that there were no obvious differences between criminals who had experienced pre- and post-incarceration crime and other criminals. In a second step, the questionnaires were based on retrospective data of the circumstances surrounding the life of the offenders, the trajectories were reconstructed using the method of life history calendars. This method has already been used in the study of criminal trajectories and has proved its worth. That's why we decided to use this method and multi-level modeling to better understand criminal trajectories. Our results allowed for a better analysis of the static and dynamic elements that surround a criminal career. In addition, they allowed us to highlight that the prison must be considered as a transition period in the criminal trajectory because there are changes between the crime that preceded and that which followed the incarceration. Following incarceration, criminals would decrease the frequency of their crimes and be less effective. With respect to the diversification of crimes, we observed that offenders were incarcerated due to increased involvement in certain types of crime. These results highlight the importance of studying the evolution of various parameters of the criminal career in order to understand the prison's role in criminal careers. This research is exploratory and opens the door to other research.

Keyphrases: Criminal career, Life history calendar, Recidivism, Life course
La judiciarisation de la violence familiale : l’expérience des Atikamekw

This study focuses on Atikamekw individuals prosecuted for domestic violence and the effect the judicialization process has upon them, their partner, their extended families, as well as the members of their communities. It also seeks to identify the needs and expectations of the Atikamekw people regarding the way to address this type of conflicts. In particular, the research investigates alternative judicial views which they find effective and respectful towards their own lifestyle, and would therefore like to develop in their communities. The results conclude that current penal process is deplored by the Atikamekw people, as it, according to their views, stands as an obstacle to effective healing and reduction of violence in their community. While arrests and detention can be appreciated by victims as a stopgap solution, their foundation and neglect of rehabilitation lead to significant skepticism towards the current system. Avenues proposed by the Atikamekw include healing retreats on their land, a revitalization of their cultural knowledge and practices, the development of help services for both individuals in the couple and addressing more cases within the community.

Keyphrases: violence conjugale, Autochtone, Atikamekw, justice, intervention, judicialization, domestic violence, familial violence, Native American, First Nation, justice system
Détermination de la mobilité du thorium et de l’uranium dans des rejets de mines

Metal mining activities can be a major source of contamination in the environment. Mining waste often contains high concentrations of metals and has physiochemical conditions that promote the mobility and / or bioavailability of toxic trace metals. In this study, we evaluated the mobility of thorium, uranium, barium, manganese and chromium from niobium mine tailings. The effect of different environmental conditions (pH, water hardness and presence of natural organic matter) was evaluated. Thorium was not strongly mobilized (CTh <30 μg kg-1) as a function of pH or hardness of water but was strongly mobilized by the presence of natural organic matter (i.e. fulvic acid, CTh> 30 μg kg -1). On the other hand, the uranium was mobilized in acid medium (pH <4), by the hardness of the water (i.e. Ca) and by the presence of fulvic acid. Barium and manganese were mobilized as a function of pH or hardness but were not mobilized by the presence of natural organic matter (i.e. fulvic acid). The mobility of chromium was not related to these environmental conditions. Metal mobility was strongly related to mine release behavior. While thorium existed mainly in the form of colloid (diameter> 0.2 μm), uranium, barium, manganese and chromium were found mainly in dissolved form (diameter <0.2 μm). Overall, the mobility of metals was in the order: Ba and Cr > Mn and U > Th. Thorium and uranium existed more nanoparticles by the presence of fulvic acid. In the presence or absence of fulvic acid, all the particles of thorium and uranium were small.

Keyphrases: Thorium, Uranium, pH, Mobility, Thorium, Uranium, Barium, manganese, pH, Ionic strength, Fulvic acid, Nanoparticle
Kara et kakaram : étude pragmatique de la vie sociale des rêves chez les Achuar du Pastaza, Équateur

This ethnography of Achuar people from Pastaza (Ecuador) is an attempt to describe and interpret the importance of dreams and visions (generic term kara), in the social life process of this Jivaroan-speaking people. It is shown that dream narratives are not merely significant as omen, or as pre-condition in an ordered sequence of action – as is the case in the immediate relation one has to his environment – but are also important tools for the construction and modulation of the experience of oneself and others. This work starts with a description of the modalities by which dreams and visions jointly pertain to the ordinary making up of well-being (pengker pujustin) and to the process of making up subjectivity, by which a person achieves agentivity and a power to live (kakaram). A detailed analysis of the corporal and inter-corporal dimensions of dream and vision narratives and practices, through many ceremonial and ritual contexts, shows that these are a social form of expressiveness which, beyond their referential value alone, makes the ethical ideal of personal fulfilment firmly rooted in an experience of aesthetic reception. This achievement of power, or agentivity, from a receiver’s position, can also be seen by studying the distribution of human and non-human participant roles in dreamlike and visionary narrative events. Indeed, the dreamlike communicative situation, in which other than human entities are brought as speakers, creates a separation between an external non-human source of power and the dreamer himself who acts and speaks as the power receiver. The dreamlike communication with power source entities, which calls upon collective memory and imaginary as well as individual creativity, through the interpretation process, is thus understood as a mean for both the continuity of collective identity and the separation between subjective identities.

Keyphrases: Vision, Achuar, Dream, Agentivity, Power, Animism, Pragmatics, Corporeality, Aesthetic, Well-being
Gouverner la violence : les effets sociaux de la loi de justice et de paix et l’administration de la violence paramilitaire après 13 ans d’application

This work contains a critical approach about the transitional justice apparatus that was implemented by the Colombian government known as “Justicia y paz”. I researched on this program to know if it was possible for the transitional justice to govern and deconstruct the paramilitary violence in Colombia by using the law 975 of 2005. The paramilitary, drug dealing, the state of emergency and the biopolitical technology that was implemented in Colombia in the last, or almost, two decades are key points to understand why transitional justice was implemented even if the guerillas were still at war against the State. The question is: how the law tries to manage the paramilitary violence and dismantles this apparatus using an exceptional dispositive as the transitional justice in Colombia?

Keyphrases: Paramilitary, Transitional justice, Guerilla, State of emergency, Biopolitics, Civil war, Law
La diaspora mauritanienne : entre retour et éloignement depuis les "Événements" de 1989

The subject of the present research is Mauritania, a country located on the Atlantic coast of Africa, bordered by Morocco, Algeria, Mali and Senegal. One of the particularities of this country derives from its geographical position, the presence of several ethnic groups on its territory, and the superposition of cultures of Arab-Berber and Sub-saharan African origin. The prevailing nomadism permitted for easy interactions and contact between the people living in the country, therefore creating economic, cultural and commercial ties. These historical bonds have not always been the guarantor of peace, in fact, the different communities have had their fair share of conflicts and tensions throughout the years. Such was the case in 1989 when territorial and political tensions culminated in a bloody conflict, justifying the use of military forces to expel thousands of Black Mauritanians into Senegal. In such a climate of repression and unease, some Mauritanians have resorted to emigration and exile, or to seek asylum in neighbouring countries, in Europe and the United States…with the determination to return in their home country when the context would allow it. The scattered Mauritanian diaspora are still attached to their home country, and despite the political instability and the distance, seek to involve themselves in every aspect of Mauritania’s economy. The relationship with local authorities are complex and characterized by distrust. Consequently, the diaspora feels alienated, as the return to their home country is not facilitated, and the retention efforts towards them by the authorities are minimal. More than a generation later, new issues have emerged for exiled and expatriated individuals who wish to return to Mauritania with their families, having acquired experience and resources from abroad. It turns out that after all this time, the context in Mauritania is as difficult and ambiguous as when they left. The State regulates very closely the issuance of official documents, freedom of speech and movement, dual citizenship, and the right to vote creating frustrations among the diaspora that have recently amplified. The entire country feels the consequences of such decisions, as the members of the diaspora are organized and lobbying from the outside, while Mauritania is being shaken by demonstrations and the demands of the local population from within. Thus, there is a revival of animosity and distrust directed towards the diaspora that are educated, politicized and influential; it appears that the strategy of keeping them away has had the opposite effect. Why hasn’t the relationship between Mauritania and its diaspora not improved since the 1989 ethnic crisis? It is in the interest of both parties to maintain good relations, to curb expatriation by an effective retention of human resources, and to guarantee the return of the diaspora at the service of their country.

Keyphrases: Diaspora, Transnationalism, Ethnic crisis, Social mobilization