Dominique Schnapper

About Dominique Schnapper

Dominique Schnapper, daughter of the French intellectual Raymond Aron, is a French sociologist and political scientist. She was a member of the Constitutional Council from 2001 to 2010 and teaches as a research director at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS). Since January 2012, she has been the president of the Museum of Art and History of Judaism (MAHJ). She also presides over the Institute for Advanced Studies in Paris.

Dominique Schnapper graduated in history and political science from Sciences Po Paris in 1957. She also obtained a doctorate in sociology from the University of Paris Sorbonne in 1967 and a Doctorate es Lettres in 1979 from the University of Paris V. She began her career in 1964 at EHESS, where she was appointed Research Director in 1980. In parallel, she has also been a lecturer at Sciences Po.

Her specialties cover many areas: the study of minorities, unemployment and work, nationality and citizenship, and the question of human rights for these populations, particularly minorities.

She has been part of numerous commissions: Member of the Marceau Long Commission on nationality reform (1987), Member of the 2000 Commission of the General Planning Commission (1989), Member of the Henrion Commission on drugs (1994), Member of the Steering Committee of the French Sociological Society (1991-1995), Member of the Fauroux Commission on education (1995-1996), President of the French Sociological Society (1995 – 1999).

In 2001, Dominique Schnapper joined the Constitutional Council, where she served until 2010. Among her many awards, she notably received the Balzan Prize for Sociology in 2002, the National Assembly Prize in 1994, and the Political Book Prize in 2007. She has been made an Officer of the Legion of Honor and an Officer of Arts and Letters.