Inspecter la culture

Whether they concern the public broadcasting reform, industrial disputes at the Picasso or Beaubourg museums or the future of the intermittent employment regime, every question, challenge, and issue affecting the cultural landscape is examined by inspectors. They meticulously navigate these issues through studies, expert appraisals, audits, and controls. Although seemingly routine and discreet, their reports are crucial instruments designed to provide unbiased information to inform public decision-making. The apparent timelessness of the inspectors' neutrality and independence is, in fact, the product of a historical process that this book aims to illuminate. It delves into the creation of administrative literature, exploring the individuals involved in its writing, commissioning, and reception and the practices employed in its creation.

Drawing from interviews and extensive archives, this research contributes to a sociology of administration, spotlighting inspectors' work practices and socialisation. It examines how they inhabit the institution and shape its culture throughout the Fifth Republic. Emphasising the role of administrative writing, the study demonstrates its contribution to building the unity of cultural policies and ensuring the continuity of the State