Lauren Dixon’s thesis defence

Introduction

The LATTS is pleased to announce that Lauren Dixon’s thesis defence will take place on Friday the 11th of September 2026 (time to be confirmed), at the École nationale des ponts et chaussées (room to be confirmed), on the Cité Descartes campus. Her thesis is entitled:

‘Day-to-day city management and the challenge of substance use in Paris’ public spaces’

This doctoral thesis was carried out at the LATTS, under the supervision of Elsa Vivant, Professor of Urban Studies.

Composition of the jury

• Thomas Alguilera, Senior Lecturer, Sciences Po Rennes, Examiner
• Delphine Corteel, Professor, University of Tours, Examiner
• Geoffrey Deverteuil, Professor, Cardiff University, Rapporteur
• Tommaso Vitale, Dean, Sciences Po Paris Urban School, Rapporteur
• Djemila Zeneidi, Research Director, CNRS, Examiner

Abstract of the thesis

The phenomenon of ‘open-air drug scenes’, where drug users gather and consume drugs in public spaces, is nothing new. For nearly thirty years, Paris has been grappling with this issue, particularly in the north-east of the city – an area where the majority of users are highly marginalised crack users. Since the early 2000s, drug users, although concentrated in the north-east, have been constantly on the move following evictions and police interventions. This has an impact on the ability of each group to organise itself, defend its interests and claim spaces as their own. More recently, conflicts between crack users and residents of Stalingrad and the Jardins d’Éole have highlighted the tensions between different users of public space.

The three-year “anti-crack” plan launched in June 2019 brings together a number of stakeholders, but despite this dedicated initiative, the State and the local council have been unable to agree on solutions. This public controversy is taking on a new form. To date, the only consensus that has been reached is that what has been done over the last thirty years is not working. Zero-tolerance policies, calming public spaces with an increased police presence, arresting dealers, rest areas, consumption rooms… the debate is wide-ranging. These issues are particularly relevant today, as there are several urban regeneration projects underway in the neighbourhoods most affected by open-air drug use.

This thesis focuses on two main areas. The first is to analyse urban policy in response to crack cocaine use in public spaces and how different stakeholders can make their voices heard (and which voices are taken into account?); the second is to examine the uses and appropriation of public spaces and the tensions that arise as a result.