Weaving connections

As our annual forum comes to a close, we have replenished our energy and recharged our batteries for another year of shared adventures! Our members are exceptionally determined, generous and inventive. Every year, we are delighted to renew our ties and forge new ones.

During one of the many debates, Tristan Riom, Vice-President of Nantes Métropole, reminded us that, according to Bruno Latour in Où suis-je?  (Where am I?),”being free no longer means freeing oneself from all chains, but recognising those that are indispensable”. Hence the need to build relationships and nurture them. At a time when sovereignty has become the European Union’s top priority, it is crucial that we embrace the theme of our interdependencies!

Traditionally, sovereignty is thought of as a form of absolute autonomy: the individual, the people or the sovereign state should not depend on anyone or anything to make their decisions, set their laws or control their resources.

In a world marked by climate change, pandemics and globalised production chains, Bruno Latour demonstrates that this vision of sovereignty has become obsolete. It is not possible to claim independence in a world saturated with systemic interactions.

According to Bruno Latour, true sovereignty today consists in knowing what – and especially who – we depend on. It is not about escaping dependencies but choosing them consciously.

Resilience is not about independence. It is about recognising and consciously choosing our dependencies. By identifying what we depend on, we define our territory and our place in the world.

This implies a paradigm shift – we move from sovereignty as detachment to sovereignty as the ability to forge sustainable and conscious ties:

• a “sovereign community” does not seek to isolate itself, instead, it organises its interdependencies (food, energy, care, etc.) so as not to be at the mercy of destructive or remote systems.
• a “sovereign person” chooses their alliances, tools and support networks instead of believing that they are independent.

This agenda is much more exciting than opting for a general retreat behind our borders.

Our three days of discussions and bonding have only strengthened this conviction!