Comment les politiques sociales et familiales construisent-elles l’enfant objet de leur attention ? Une approche contrastée entre la France et Cuba

Abstract

How do public policies construct the child that is the focus of their attention ? Contrasting approaches by France and Cuba. The genesis of family policies in France has shown to what extent the political philosophy governing the relationships between citizen and State had to be amended to allow room for a “ family” that had become an issue and an instrument of public policy. This meant a revision and a nuanced understanding and definition of the child. Cuba, whose revolution in 1959 promoted the equal and interdependent citizen, offered its people, even children, protective measures concerning economics, health and education, but did not lock them into a family policy. For all that, the child continues to be an issue of public policy. It is towards understanding the theoretical core principles and historical processes of this difference in the status of the child in the public policies of Cuba and France that this text is intended to contribute.