Benjamin Dubertrand

Benjamin Dubertrand is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Perpignan Via Domitia, with dual affiliations at the Interdisciplinary Laboratory for Solidarity, Societies, Territories (LISST) and the Center for Research on Societies and Environments in the Mediterranean (CRESEM). His academic career centers on the anthropology of alternative lifestyles, particularly examining neo-rural communities in the French Pyrenees region of Ariège and comparative studies in Arizona.

Dubertrand's research interests focus on how individuals and small groups create micro-autonomous spaces through what he terms "braconnage" (resource appropriation), exploring the tension between utopian ideals and practical constraints in rural settings. His work examines alternative economic practices, ecological transitions, knowledge systems, and the reconfiguration of work-life relationships among contemporary neo-rurals. He investigates how these communities negotiate identity, power dynamics, and legitimacy within established rural societies while developing alternative forms of social organization.

His publication trajectory reveals a consistent scholarly focus on alternative living experiments, with particular attention to the Ariège region since the 2010s. His research demonstrates increasing engagement with questions of ecological transition, autonomy practices, and the social dynamics of neo-rural integration. Dubertrand's work bridges theoretical anthropological frameworks with grounded ethnographic research, contributing to broader discussions about sustainable alternatives to mainstream societal models.

Dubertrand maintains active research collaborations, as evidenced by his co-authored 2024 publication with Madeleine Sallustio on power dynamics in neo-rural settlements. His work connects with broader scholarly conversations about social innovation in rural contexts and the evolving relationship between humans and their environments.

Based at the House of Research at 5 allées Antonio Machado in Toulouse, Dubertrand contributes to the vibrant anthropological research community in southern France, with particular focus on Mediterranean societies and environments through his CRESEM affiliation.