Cécilia Claeys

The Spread of Asian Tiger Mosquitoes and Related Health Risks Along the French Riviera: An Analysis of Reactions and Concerns Amongst the Local Population

Abstract: Since the early 2000s, the accidental introduction of the tiger mosquito has exposed Europe to new diseases previously observed in Southern countries, leading to the onset of new nuisances and health risks. In France, the area first affected was the French Riviera. Based on the results of a qualitative and quantitative survey, this article analyses the reactions and concerns amongst the local population regarding the spread of Asian tiger mosquitoes and the related health risks. While residents are well aware of the mosquitoes’ presence and perceive a related increase in nuisances at different levels, they tend to play down the related health risks, notably due to the high degree of trust placed in the French healthcare system. It is the wealthiest inhabitants that are most affected by the problem, which primarily affects villa districts. Finally, cultural resistance has hindered the success of awareness-raising campaigns due to the stigma associated with mosquitoes.

The implementation and reception of policies for preventing dengue fever epidemics: a comparative study of Martinique and French Guyana

In this article, we use an analytical framework based on the sociology of risk to provide a qualitative analysis of the implementation and reception of public risk-prevention policies for dengue epidemics in Martinique and French Guyana. The data are derived from 116 semi-structured interviews and direct observation conducted in 2012 and 2013. The two overseas departments studied provide an opportunity to draw on the social theory of risk and uncertainty in multicultural contexts. Our analysis highlights that the rise of several technical, economic, legal and entomological constraints has recently led to a public policy shift from biological and chemical mosquito control to awareness-raising campaigns focused on domestic spaces. This change involves a shift in responsibility from public authorities to the private sphere. However, there is strong demand from the local population for mosquito control and the involvement of public authorities. This reciprocal passing of responsibility is exacerbated by the colonial past and heritage of slavery in these multiethnic overseas territories located over 7000 km from the seat of the French government.

Protected Areas and Overuse in the Context of Socio-Natural Changes: An Interdisciplinary French Case Study

Abstract: This article provides an interdisciplinary analysis of the notion of overuse in natural areas. Based on the case of the French Calanques massif (located along the Mediterranean coast between Marseilles and Cassis), sociology and biology combine their analyses to examine the social processes behind the increasingly widespread use of natural areas and the ecological consequences thereof. The data are comprised of interdisciplinary research based on eighty semi-structured interviews conducted on-site and 330 telephone survey questionnaires. We critically analyse of the notion of overuse and underscore the socio-economic, cultural and ideological weight it carries in the context of socio-natural change; this calls into question the relevance of the ancient nature/culture dichotomy. Drawing on theoretical tools from environmental sociology, this article also provides some perspectives for natural area managers.