Within The Land
Jean-Marc Esnault, CEO of The Land ecosystem, shares his thoughts on the new rurality.
In his book, Jean-Marc Esnault presents his observations and shares his ideas on regional planning, the environment, agriculture, renewable energies, and local commerce. With strong conviction, Jean-Marc Esnault takes an open stance, alternating between slightly provocative observations, a good dose of humor, and a sharp eye. His position is one of open-mindedness, eager to develop real trajectories without pitting regions against each other in order to facilitate the reconquest of our countryside. This thought-provoking work is both forward-looking and invigorating.
3 questions for Jean-Marc Esnault
Why did you write this book?
Writing has always been a pleasure. I am also a vocal advocate for rural areas, convinced that, given the many societal challenges we currently face (global warming, renewable energy, food, reducing social and territorial divides, etc.), some solutions can be found in our countryside. This manuscript gave me the opportunity to bring together my thoughts and analyses on everything that makes up rural life today and what could shape rural life tomorrow.
My approach is therefore deliberately multifaceted, societal, and forward-looking. I feel that the view of our countryside is still too often partial, sometimes a little condescending, when in my opinion it carries within it the seeds of a certain modernity. I often talk about a new rurality in this regard, and this manuscript was also an opportunity to sketch out its contours.
I have also believed for a long time that we need to raise questions about the occupation of territories and provoke a reaction by linking together pieces of information that are often wrongly disregarded. The idea is to move from "that's the way it is" to "it could be different," from a resigned and docile attitude to one that opens up new possibilities.
In the exercise I undertook, I wanted to make the subject accessible by adding a touch of humor, a few historical, literary, and cinematic references, and even some references drawn from current events. With a subject like this, it's easy to end up with an expert discourse that speaks to experts, but not necessarily to the general public. I tried to avoid this pitfall by talking about a very serious subject in a way that didn't take myself too seriously. Ultimately, I will have achieved my goal if my book ends up on a few beaches this summer.
Who are your favorite authors or inspirations?
A book is always a very personal work, but Raphaël Enthoven's ability in "Les morales provisoires à s'étonner" (Provisional Morals to Be Surprised By) to be surprised by what we are used to seeing inspires me, as does his ability to understand before judging... Frédéric Beigbeder's humor and derision in "La frivolité est une affaire sérieuse" (Frivolity is a serious matter), a collection of 99 short essays, is also a unique way of approaching the seriousness to which I am sensitive.
Now, these are authors who enjoy great renown and undeniable literary qualities that I obviously do not claim to match in any way. I am a reader of novels who loves authors recognized for their style, but also authors who write about society. Beyond novelists, I enjoy reading thinkers, particularly sociologists and philosophers. I regularly read essays. I appreciate Edgar Morin's cross-disciplinary and multidisciplinary approach, which makes him unclassifiable, half philosopher, half sociologist. I am sensitive to the work of Jim Harrison, who wrote about the great outdoors like no other. Luis Sepulveda and Paulo Coelho also feature prominently in my library.
Do you have any other writing projects?
Yes, I am starting another book on the place of dreams and utopias in our societies. I feel that we are currently lacking a new wave of enthusiasm to catalyze energies in a single direction. We are witnessing a fragmentation of the electorate, as evidenced by the latest legislative elections, and the deputies who represent the regions in the National Assembly will find it very difficult to work together. Tensions are high, opposition is growing, and conflicting demands are on the rise throughout our society today. It seems difficult to find common ground for building harmonious coexistence.
With global warming, biodiversity loss, soil conservation, inflation... Our societies are organized around a logic of preservation, sharing, rebalancing, and degrowth. In short, nothing very exciting! That is why I believe we need to come up with a new project today, perhaps even a new model of society, which can be neither a continuation of the existing model nor a model of degrowth. Let's move away from this binary economic approach and lay the foundations for a new social contract! Throughout history, our societies have been able to organize themselves differently, and even today, there are examples of original social organizations in all four corners of the globe. Nature itself can be a source of inspiration for thinking differently about human relationships, proving that another horizon is possible!
Just as my reading tastes are eclectic, I am also thinking of starting to write a novel alongside this essay. I want to try my hand at a more narrative and intimate exercise. No doubt I feel this need today because a number of conditions are in place. I am convinced that nothing is ever entirely the result of chance. And while what I have undertaken so far has often been the result of encounters, this aspiration towards a new form of writing is no exception to the rule.
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