Did you know that this impressive building before us the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales EHESS boasts a history intertwined with some of the greatest minds of the 20th century?
The EHESS a leading French institution for research and higher education in the social sciences is far more than just a school. It’s a legacy forged in the fires of World War II. Founded in 1947 its origins lie in the Ecole Libre des Hautes Etudes a remarkable institution established in New York during the war. This earlier school a refuge for exiled intellectuals included luminaries like Claude Levi-Strauss and Alexandre Koyre. They brought their vast knowledge and experience back to Paris after the war to establish what would become the EHESS.
The EHESS wasn’t just a continuation of the earlier school. It was an evolution a bold step towards building a new kind of social science institution. It became a center for interdisciplinary thought a place where different social sciences could engage in fruitful dialogue and collaboration. Figures like Fernand Braudel and Lucien Febvre shaped its early years. Their influence resonates within the walls of this building.
The EHESS has occupied various locations over the years including buildings on Boulevard Raspail. There were even temporary relocation due to renovations. But the commitment to research and intellectual exchange remained constant. The EHESS expanded its reach eventually becoming a prominent part of the Paris Sciences et Lettres network. This connected it with elite French institutions like the Ecole Normale Superieure Ulm and the College de France.
The EHESS continues to maintain its global connections. It hosts exchange programs with world-renowned universities from Berkeley to Tokyo. It also has significant links with universities in Asia reflecting the presence of renowned research centers on Asian Studies within the EHESS itself. The school’s impact extends far beyond its immediate location. It has contributed to the founding of several leading economics schools in France such as the Paris School of Economics.
It is not merely a place of academic study. The EHESS has also been involved in events of significant global impact. For example it hosted a conference in 2019 on the New Polish School of Holocaust History. This conference faced significant disruptions by Polish nationalists highlighting the EHESS’s position at the forefront of important discussions. The EHESS also counts many renowned academics and Nobel laureates among its former students and professors. These individuals including Jean Tirole have gone on to make substantial contributions to various fields.
So as you stand here before the EHESS remember you’re not just looking at a building. You are witnessing a living testament to intellectual rigor groundbreaking research and the enduring power of ideas. It stands as a symbol of academic excellence and intellectual innovation a vital part of Paris and a significant contributor to global academic discourse.