Carole Reynaud-Paligot

Paris 1 Panthéon–Sorbonne University (France) 

History of genetics and its social implications

2026–2027: Spring

Carole Reynaud-Paligot is a historian. After studying political science, she devoted her early research to the politicization of the artistic and literary avant-gardes (anarchism, neo-impressionism, and surrealism). Then, she carried out a detailed investigation into the racial culture that had spread widely in France (19th–20th centuries) and throughout Western societies.

She has published several books including: Parcours politique des surréalistes 1919–1969 (CNRS éditions, 1994, 2025), La République raciale. Une histoire 1860–1940 (2021 PUF Quadrige), De l’identité nationale. Science, race et politique en Europe et aux Etats-Unis (PUF, 2011), L’Ecole aux colonies entre racialisation et mission civilisatrice (Champ Vallon, 2020).

With geneticist Evelyne Heyer, she was scientific co-curator of the exhibition “Nous et les Autres. From prejudice to racism” at the Musée de l’Homme in Paris, which is still touring France and abroad. With artist Ismaël Méziane, they published a graphic novel Comment devient-on raciste? (Casterman).

Website: centrehistoire19esiecle.pantheonsorbonne.fr/carole-reynaud-paligot