The second session of the «National Cohesion and Citizenship» seminar, organised by the Cercle des partenaires de l'IHEDN, was held at the Lycée Honoré Daumier in Marseille (13008) over five days, from 3 May to 14 June 2012.
The aim of this training course, which was aimed at managers who act as intermediaries for young people in difficulty, was to encourage collective reflection and discussion on the issues of citizenship and disseminating the spirit of defence, around the central theme of «Being a French citizen in 2012».
Four lectures were given:
- Professor Jean-François Mattéi, philosopher (and Marseillais): «What it means to be a French citizen»,
- Jérôme Bourrier, Deputy Public Prosecutor of the Marseille District Court: «Citizenship and judicial authority, two corollary concepts»,
- Delinquency and citizenship« by Lieutenant-Colonel Alain Dequaire of the Coordination Centre for the Fight against Drugs in the Mediterranean,
- and by philosopher Michel Lacroix, entitled «Le patriotisme entre particularisme et universalisme» (Patriotism between particularism and universalism).
These presentations, supplemented by round-table discussions and field visits to the Marseilles Marine Fire Brigade and the Marseilles Memorial, provided food for thought during the committee work.
In a studious but relaxed atmosphere, Robert Ranquet, General Armaments Engineer, Deputy Director of the IHEDN, chaired the closing ceremony in the presence of Jérôme Bourrier, Deputy Public Prosecutor of the Marseille District Court, and Laurence Varaut, Executive Director of the IHEDN Partners' Circle. During the day, the thirteen trainees, mainly from the voluntary sector, presented the conclusions of their committee work.
Each presentation was followed by a question and answer period, during which the discussions were as rich and dynamic as the seminar itself. The associative world of Marseilles was enthralled by the seminar.
The day ended with a ceremony at which the course certificates were presented.
