About

After obtaining my PhD in sociology at Sciences-po Paris in 2004, I worked as a lecturer at the University of Lille (2005-2008), then at the Ecole des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris (2008-2015). Since 2015, I hold the Canada Research Chair in Social Inequalities and Life Course, and I am a professor of sociology at the University of Montreal. 

My research focuses on the place of young people and the evolution of inequalities between generation from a comparative point of view. I am the author of several books on these themes, including «Becoming an Adult. Comparative Sociology of Youth in Europe » (Presses Universitaires de France, 2008) and « Sociology of Life Course » (Armand Colin, 2015). I have received several awards and distinctions : French National Merit Order (2015), Italia Prize (2014), Red Cross Senior Research Prize (2013), and Le Monde University Research Prize (2006).

I am currently developing a comprehensive theory of social anger at a global level: I carry out a comparative analysis of protests and anti-system narratives of young adults in different parts of the world in the last decade (Canada, Chile, France, Spain and Hong Kong) to identify the contemporary dynamics of anger, and their relation to hope and alternatives. The purpose is to come up with new tools to build more inclusive policies for youth in a post-Covid world. 

My latest news

Talk

« Invisible Angers. Dynamics of revolt and silence in the life course  », British Sociological Association, Annual Conference 2023, University of Manchester, April 12, 2023.

TV

« Peut-on grandir sans se trahir? », Arte.tv, Les idées larges, by Laura Raim, April 11, 2023. 

Talk

« Hope, anger or empathy : Covid-19 and the political emotions of young adults », British Political Studies Association, Annual Conference 2023, Panel Young People’s Politics, Moores University of Liverpool, April 4, 2023.

Article

DEBROUX LEDUC, R., BIER, N., COUTURE, M., ANSALDO, A. I., BELLEVILLE, S., BEN GAIED, N., CHESNEAU, S., BELCHIOR, P., FONSECA, R., HEBBLETHWAITE, S., JAREMA, G., LACERDA, A., ROUSSEAU, J., VAN DE VELDE, C. ET FILIATRAULT, J. « Social isolation in older adults living in a neighbourhood of Montreal: A qualitative descriptive study of the perspectives of older adults and community stakeholders », Canadian Journal on Aging/La Revue canadienne du vieillissement, feb. 2023, p.1-12.

Radio
« Education : faut-il réparer le futur? », France Culture, Broadcast « Etre et savoir with Louise Tourret, January 23, 2023.

Chapter
« ¿Una brecha generacional global?: Juventud y relaciones intergeneracionales en el siglo xxi. », In L. Sepúlveda & A. Moreno (Eds.), Transiciones educativo-laborales de jóvenes en tiempos de incertidumbre, Ediciones Universidad Alberto Hurtado, p.53-78, 2022.
DOI : https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv3596xhc.5

Conference
« Jeunesses : des révoltes collectives aux révoltes silencieuses », France-Quebec Forum « Comment les jeunes réinventent-ils et elles l’engagement? », INJEP, November 17, 2022.

Article
VAN DE VELDE Cécile, BLAIS Audrey, BOUDREAULT Stéphanie, HARDY Caroline, KONATÉ Khady, LAGIER June, LARY Siméon, MAGLIONI Michelangelo, TRIGUEROS Poerava, “Etre jeune et vivre une pandémie”, Revue du CREMIS, Spring 2022.

Talk
« Jacques Hamel, sociologue de la jeunesse »,Workshop around Jacques Hamel’s work, University of Montreal, Sociology Department, November 2, 2022.

Press article
SCHWABE Markus, «  Retro van in Sudbury, Ont., part of travelling research project on youth social anger », CBCNews, October 27, 2022.

Radio
TENNESSEE Krystal, SCHWABE Markus, « Researchers in a vintage van collecting stories of young people from northern Ontario », CBC Radio, Morning North with Markus Schwabe, October 27, 2022.

Radio
GERMAIN Andréanne, RICHARD Julie, VAN DE VELDE Cécile, TENNESSEE Krystal, « Une radio mobile pour recueillir les révoltes invisibles », Radio Canada, Jonction 11-17, October 26, 2022.

Conference
« Silent Angers. Youth, Social Hardships and Politics », Conference in the Research Network 30 « Youth and Generation » Seminar, European Sociological Association, discussants Ilaria Pitti and Azad Heydarov, June 16, 2022.

Article
The power of slogans: using protest writings in social movement research, Social Movement Studies, 2022, DOI : https://doi.org/10.1080/14742837.2022.2084065

Conference
« Construire sa vie en temps de pandémie: quelques réflexions sur la relève », opening conference of the congress « Les relèves, quelles relèves? Exploration des relations entre les notions de relève et de jeunesse », INRS, June 2, 2022.

Conference
« Se saisir des émotions en sciences sociales : un renouveau méthodologique », plenary conference of the congress « L’emprise du sensible dans les recherches en sciences sociales : nouveaux enjeux méthodologiques », ACFAS, May 11, 2022.

Talk
« From loud protests to silent angers: what youth has to say about our world », SOC1190 « Culture and Inclusion in a More Unequal America » Spring 2022, Instructor : Michèle Lamont, Department of Sociology, Harvard University, April 25, 2022.

Talk
VAN DE VELDE Cécile, « « I’m angry against the system that plays me » : Exploring narratives of anger and hope in contemporary youth », British Political Studies Association, Annual Conference 2022, Panel Young People’s Politics, April 11, 2022. 

Talk
VAN DE VELDE Cécile, Silent Angers. Exploring narratives of hope and injustice among contemporary youth, Eastern Sociological Society, Boston, March 11, 2022.

Talk
SENDROIU Iona, VAN DE VELDE Cécile, CHAKRABHARTI Poulomi, VAN DOORMALEN Thijs, GOODMAN Erin, Building better lives? Crisis, inequalities and social change, Weatherhead Forum, Harvard University, March 9, 2022.

Chapter
 VAN DE VELDE Cécile, « Jeunes », in Didier Fassin (ed), La société qui vient, Paris, Seuil, 2022, p.706-719.

Radio
VAN DE VELDE Cécile, DENEAULT Alain, Discussion sur la honte avec Cécile Van de Velde et Alain Deneault, Broadcast « Plus on est de fous, plus on lit », Radio Canada Première, interviewed by Marie-Louise Arsenault, January 26, 2022.