Collective residencies / POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY / Olot
FÉLIX MATHIEU
From Monday, 25 March 2019 to Friday, 5 April 2019
Bio
Félix Mathieu is a PhD Researcher in political science at the Université du Québec à Montréal and a student member of the Canada Research Chair in Québec and Canadian Studies. His research focuses on multinational federalism, nationalism and multiculturalism, and has been published in several scientific journals, such as Publius: The Journal of Federalism, Ethnicities, Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism,Canadian Journal of Political Science. He is the author of Les défis du pluralisme à l’ère des sociétés complexes (2017, Presses de l’Université du Québec; 2018 Political Book Prize of the National Assembly of Québec) and the co-director (with Dave Guénette) of Ré-imaginer le Cadada: vers un État multinational? (2019, Les Presses de l’Université Laval).
Project
My stay at Faber provides me with the opportunity to further my research with regards to the phenomenon of “fragile nations”, on both a theoretical and practical scale. Not only will I get the chance to discuss and present my theoretical framework with colleagues, but I will benefit from being at the Faber Residency Program to reflect on Catalonia being a “fragile nation” in search of its self-determination, recognition and institutional autonomy. Faber gives me a rare opportunity to fully concentrate on this line of reasoning.
An inspiring environment
I have taken part to the Faber Thematic Residency on Political Philosophy in March-April 2019. I have enjoyed my two-week stay at so many levels. The Faber Residency in Olot is situated in a magnificent and inspiring environment for writing and developing new ideas. The working space is well equipped, and the Faber staff makes sure the residents have everything they need. I really think Francesc Serés and his team have achieved to find the best formula for this kind of residency program.
Having shared my stay with several other colleagues working on similar, yet different issues have provided me with inestimable input. Both informal discussions over breakfast or dinner and more formal ones during the seminar on Legitimacy and Processes of Self-determination have contributed greatly to my experience.
In particular, during my stay I have completed a draft version of a research article, Fragile Nations, Legitimacy and Processes of Self-determination: The Case of Catalonia. I have also worked on the theoretical and analytical framework of my ongoing PhD thesis, which focuses on a comparative study that analyses the evolution of power relations between minority nations and the sovereign state in which they evolve.
Olot is a wonderful place to go out for a run during the day, or to explore surrounding villages by bicycle. For these reasons and for many others, I think Faber is amongst the leader in providing such an inspiring environment for encountering new colleagues and ideas.