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This paper examines the role of consensus in the reproduction of dominant interests. Consensus building is often considered a central value for rational decision making and management. However, more than a democratic confrontation of vantage points, the quest for consensus constitutes a way to deny asymmetries in positions of power, i.e., to discourage conflict and resistance in order to promote dominating interests (and to silence others) as if they were collective. Our main argument is that accounting and consensus play central roles in processes of definition and the reproduction of dominant interests. Precisely, we argue that accounting acts to promote some stakes and strategies (and silence others), as if they were collective and disinterested, which makes them more powerful in debates that deny struggles and asymmetries in positions of power, as well as increases legitimacy by creating an illusion of participation. Bourdieu's conceptualisation of symbolic domination helps clarify how powerful actors secure influence and consolidate positions while avoiding contestation. A field study documents the intersection of two fields of knowledge, marketing and accounting, that compete to monopolize the definition of value and the ability to speak for the organisation. Accounting produces symbolic violence to legitimise the reproduction of asymmetrical positions of power by shaping what is consensual and what is not.

This paper examines the role of consensus in the reproduction of dominant interests. Consensus building is often considered a central value for rational decision making and management. However, more than a democratic confrontation of vantage points, the quest for consensus constitutes a way to deny asymmetries in positions of power, i.e., to discourage conflict and resistance in order to promote dominating interests (and to silence others) as if they were collective. Our main argument is that accounting and consensus play central roles in processes of definition and the reproduction of dominant interests. Precisely, we argue that accounting acts to promote some stakes and strategies (and silence others), as if they were collective and disinterested, which makes them more powerful in debates that deny struggles and asymmetries in positions of power, as well as increases legitimacy by creating an illusion of participation. Bourdieu's conceptualisation of symbolic domination helps clarify how powerful actors secure influence and consolidate positions while avoiding contestation. A field study documents the intersection of two fields of knowledge, marketing and accounting, that compete to monopolize the definition of value and the ability to speak for the organisation. Accounting produces symbolic violence to legitimise the reproduction of asymmetrical positions of power by shaping what is consensual and what is not.

International audience ; This paper examines the organization of death. Through an ethnographic study, we examine how a geriatrics department guides the end of life. Drawing on Agamben, we show that organizations that are dedicated to life, but regularly confronted with death, develop dispositifs (mechanisms, technologies, practices and relationships) to turn biopolitics (power over life) into thanatopolitics (a regime of death). We also show how the inherently political meaning of life disrupts such government of death. The inclusion of political life in a regime of death disrupts organizational practices that find themselves facing fundamental questions of what makes a life worth living, who can decide not to prolong life, and based on which criteria.

International audience ; This paper examines the organization of death. Through an ethnographic study, we examine how a geriatrics department guides the end of life. Drawing on Agamben, we show that organizations that are dedicated to life, but regularly confronted with death, develop dispositifs (mechanisms, technologies, practices and relationships) to turn biopolitics (power over life) into thanatopolitics (a regime of death). We also show how the inherently political meaning of life disrupts such government of death. The inclusion of political life in a regime of death disrupts organizational practices that find themselves facing fundamental questions of what makes a life worth living, who can decide not to prolong life, and based on which criteria.

International audience ; This paper studies the organisation of death in a hospital. Beyond ethical issues, we examine the technical, professional, and sociological stakes of the management of end of life situations. Through an ethnographic study we followed geriatricians and their efforts to organise a 'good' death. We show that this invisible work aims at organising the passage toward a "natural" and "confortable" death, a death that is not only "peaceful" but also accompanied. ; Cet article porte sur l'organisation de la mort dans le contexte hospitalier. Au-delà des questions éthiques, les auteurs étudient les enjeux techniques, professionnels et sociologiques de la gestion hospitalière de la fin de vie. Une étude ethnographique leurs a permis d'observer le travail quotidien de gériatres et leurs efforts pour organiser une « bonne » mort. Ils montrent que ce travail, largement invisible, permet d'organiser le passage vers une mort « naturelle » et « confortable », non seulement « apaisée » mais surtout accompagnée.

International audience ; This paper studies the organisation of death in a hospital. Beyond ethical issues, we examine the technical, professional, and sociological stakes of the management of end of life situations. Through an ethnographic study we followed geriatricians and their efforts to organise a 'good' death. We show that this invisible work aims at organising the passage toward a "natural" and "confortable" death, a death that is not only "peaceful" but also accompanied. ; Cet article porte sur l'organisation de la mort dans le contexte hospitalier. Au-delà des questions éthiques, les auteurs étudient les enjeux techniques, professionnels et sociologiques de la gestion hospitalière de la fin de vie. Une étude ethnographique leurs a permis d'observer le travail quotidien de gériatres et leurs efforts pour organiser une « bonne » mort. Ils montrent que ce travail, largement invisible, permet d'organiser le passage vers une mort « naturelle » et « confortable », non seulement « apaisée » mais surtout accompagnée.

International audience ; This paper studies the organisation of death in a hospital. Beyond ethical issues, we examine the technical, professional, and sociological stakes of the management of end of life situations. Through an ethnographic study we followed geriatricians and their efforts to organise a 'good' death. We show that this invisible work aims at organising the passage toward a "natural" and "confortable" death, a death that is not only "peaceful" but also accompanied. ; Cet article porte sur l'organisation de la mort dans le contexte hospitalier. Au-delà des questions éthiques, les auteurs étudient les enjeux techniques, professionnels et sociologiques de la gestion hospitalière de la fin de vie. Une étude ethnographique leurs a permis d'observer le travail quotidien de gériatres et leurs efforts pour organiser une « bonne » mort. Ils montrent que ce travail, largement invisible, permet d'organiser le passage vers une mort « naturelle » et « confortable », non seulement « apaisée » mais surtout accompagnée.