Following in the footsteps of the historic École des Annales, EHESS de Paris has developed an approach to the complex relationship between identity and space, based on the dual need for experimentation and theoretical reflection on specific cases, whence the vital role that this partner plays in reflection on socio-spatial categories. More specifically, from a thematic standpoint Paris provides expertise relating to the concepts of territory and region.  The teaching staff offers a choice of more than forty classes each year, with, notably, a highly structured range of courses in geography and cartographic techniques. The “Territoires, espaces, societies” master’s programme offers a teaching experience over several years in the areas covered by the TEMA European Master Course. The team’s research covers areas as diverse as administrative networks and regionalism, territorial requirements, transport networks, mental representations and geographical know-how, etc. Work is carried out not only in Europe, but also in several other major cultural areas (Latin America, the Muslim world, Eastern and Southern Asia, Africa, etc.). Interdisciplinarity is a tried and tested way of working at EHESS. The team is also well-practiced in managing and participating in international (European and non-European) research projects in the field of territorial studies.

Marie-Vic Ozouf-Marignier is a historian and geographer, and is a director of studies at EHESS. She is in charge of the “Territoires, espaces, societies” master’s programme and the “Territoires, sociétés, développement” doctoral programme.  She is a specialist in methods of dividing and representing territory and runs a seminar on “Infra-state territorial decentralisation and reorganisation, identities, development know-how”.  Among her publications are:  La formation des départements (Ed. de l’EHESS, 1992), Atlas de la Révolution française (Ed. de l’EHESS, 1989) and Géographes en pratiques (Presses universitaires de Rennes, 2001).  She regularly takes part in European programmes, in particular with Hungary, Italy and Spain.

E-mail: Marie-Vic.Ozouf-Marignier@ehess.fr

Alain Musset, former student at the Ecole Normale Supérieure, is an agrégé in geography and an honorary member of the Institut Universitaire de France. He specialises in the study of urban worlds in Mexico and in Latin America, attending his viva on “Water in the Valley of Mexico: the technical and cultural challenges (16th-19th centuries)”. Former lecturer at Université Paris-X Nanterre, he is now director of studies at EHESS, where he was in charge of the History Department from 2000 to 2006.  He runs the “Comparative Study of Development” master’s programme and is a member of GGH-Terres. Among his recent works are: Géopolitique des Amériques and ¿Geohistoria o geoficción ? Ciudades vulnerables y justicia espacial.