RevUE of Agnieszka Pasieka’s Simone Veil Talk proposed by Nélia Dondrille

« A Tale of Two Simones: On Activism, Rights and the Right », march 20, 2025 with Agniezka Pasieka (Université de Montréal).

Agnieszka Pasieka’s lecture focused on activism and rights, drawing on a comparison between Simone Veil and Simone Weil. Based on her research and, in particular, her most recent book, the speaker explored the connection between Simone Veil and Simone Weil—two major figures in French thought, often confused by the public, yet who followed distinct paths, despite sharing a deep commitment to social justice.

Simone Veil, former president of the European Parliament, is a key figure in French politics, known for her role in legalizing abortion in France and her lifelong advocacy for human rights. A Holocaust survivor, her personal history profoundly shaped her fight for dignity and equality. Simone Weil, by contrast, was a philosopher and activist who focused on social justice, human suffering, and alienation.

A central point of analysis was the distinction between “rights” and “needs.” Weil placed strong emphasis on the idea of individuals being “rooted” in a community, whereas Veil emphasized the importance of “attention” and listening to individual needs.

Pasieka then questioned the relevance of these concepts today, in a context where human rights are increasingly challenged, and where inequalities and social exclusion are intensifying—particularly due to political shifts in Europe and the rise of the far right. She thereby highlighted the political decisions that shape these realities.

To illustrate her argument, Agnieszka Pasieka presented concrete examples of activist initiatives drawn from her research on the “ordinariness of activists.” The first example she discussed concerned an Italian movement that supports families in need through a social assistance program titled Don’t be indifferent: help Italian families in need. In addition to helping people in distress, the program aims to educate the next generation through public campaigns that emphasize solidarity and attention to the needs of the most vulnerable.

Another significant example was the Sportello Gratuito di Consulenza e Cooperazione, an initiative in Italy providing support to migrants. This initiative addresses issues such as exploitative working conditions, xenophobic rhetoric, and migrant precarity by offering legal assistance, food distribution, and spaces for dialogue. A poignant testimony from one activist highlighted a sense of abandonment by the state and the need to create their own rules of mutual aid. The crucial importance of “attention”—beyond material resources—was emphasized, as activists offer not only help but presence and listening.

In conclusion, Professor Pasieka stressed that activists embody a vital approach for political movements: speaking to people as full human beings. She advocated for the need to re-center needs at the heart of political dialogue. Through compelling illustrations and thoughtful analysis, the lecture revealed the essential role of attention in both activism and politics, as a way to move forward in contemporary society. Attention, described repeatedly during the presentation as “the rarest and purest form of generosity,” emerged as a foundational element for meaningful political and social action.

Nélia Dondrille.