p. 673-696

The relationship between social science and social action were a key issue in the consti- tution of the sociological discipline amongst Durkheimian sociologists. Thus, despite the fact that when it was set up the International Labour Office was the focus of particular sociological involvement on the part of Durkheim’s intellectual heirs, several Durkheim- ians decided they would not work there. Using an examination of the reasons why Fran- çois Simiand distanced himself from the work of the organization between 1920 and 1930, and from a review of his methodology, this article helps to distinguish two divergent sociological paths during the interwar period : a scientific Durkheimianism and a Durk- heimianism of action.

Key words. HISTORY OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES – INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION – INTERWAR PERIOD – ACTION – ACTIVISM – DURKHEIMIANISM – EPISTEMOLOGY