Xavier Boniface

Xavier Boniface is a Professor of Contemporary History at the University of Picardy Jules Verne (UPJV), where he is affiliated with the Faculty of History and Geography and the CHSSC Research Unit (UR UPJV 4289). He joined UPJV in 2014 after serving as Professor at the University of the Littoral Opal Coast (ULCO) from 2010-2014, following 12 years as Lecturer and PRAG at ULCO.

His academic credentials include:

• History Aggregation (1990)
• Doctorate from ULCO (1997)
• HDR (Habilitation) from Lille III University (2008)

Professor Boniface's research centers on contemporary religious history with distinctive expertise in church-state relations in France, secularism, military chaplaincy systems, and the dynamics of religions during wartime. His work bridges institutional history with sociological analysis of religious phenomena in modern conflict zones and state secularization processes.

As head of the Warrior Phenomenon master's program, he oversees advanced historical training while maintaining active roles in national research governance through AERES and ANR evaluations. His editorial leadership spans multiple prestigious historical journals including the Revue de l'histoire de l'Église de France which he directs.

His primary research environment is the CHSSC Research Unit (UR UPJV 4289), where he collaborates on interdisciplinary projects examining historical, societal and cultural dimensions of modern conflicts. He extends this work through the GIS 'Faits religieux' network and defense history councils, creating national research synergies in religious and military history.