Dupont, Benoit Yves.

The thesis provides an in-depth analysis of Blumer's theoretical concepts, or root images, which constitute the theoretical framework of his symbolic interactionism. It is argued that the root images are consistent theoretical concepts in that they do not present a subjectivist, a voluntaristic, an astructural, and a microsociological bias. A study of the application of Blumer's root images to his substantive research is developed along a classification of social groups into what Blumer calls "collectivities", i.e. elementary collective groups (the crowd, the mass, the public) and social movements, and "organizations", i.e. labor unions and management organizations. The analysis shows the validity of symbolic interactionism as a macrosociological theory. It nevertheless suggests some theoretical refinements as to the symbolic interactionist treatment of macro social groups.