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Berbères ou Arabes
Le tango des spécialistes
Hélène Claudot-Hawad (coord.)

In the middle of the 19^th century, the West became interested in a newcomer on the scientific scene – the Berber – a name which meant nothing to the people in question. In the evolutionist paradigm of the time, the “Berbers” were part of a triangular relation with “Arabs” and “Europeans” on the two other sides. Specialists use different scales of values to compare differences and similarities, disjunctions and conjunctions between these categories. The hand to hand combat between these disciplines result in frontiers which are constantly shifting, interactive and being redefined. Berbers – now Imazighen – or Arabs? Berbers or non Berbers? This books questions the conditions for the creation of a specialist area: Berber Studies. It analyses the make-up of its subjects and its theoretical principles, its academic legitimacy or its decline at various times. Helped by unusual research methods, it dissects the devices of learning and finally, the difficulties inherent in a scientific outlook on things.