Born in Paris…

Renée Poznanski’s ego-history describes her research on the history of Jews in France during the Second World War which has focused on persecutions and internment camps, the involvement of Jews in the French Resistance, their interactions with French society and survival strategies. It argues that these research interests are only partly linked to the author’s family background. Two major historical events played a key role in the development of her critical thinking, namely the Six-Day War and May 1968. Poznanski’s emphasises the important role of scholars in debunking stereotypes and promoting social justice and cohesion. Through her focus on Jews in France during WWII, she engages with the question of multiple identities and diverse cultural backgrounds in a nation-state.