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Michel Maffesoli (born 14 November 1944) is a French sociologist.
He is a former pupil of Gilbert Durand and Julien Freund, and an emeritus professor at Paris Descartes University. His work touches upon the issue of community links and the prevalence of "the imaginary" in the everyday life of contemporary societies, through which he contributes to the postmodern paradigm.
Maffesoli has been a member of the Institut Universitaire de France since September 2008, following a controversial nomination.More generally, he has been the subject of several controversies, both scientific and professional, the most widely known of which concerns his supervision of the PhD dissertation of astrologer Élizabeth Teissier.
Maffesoli was born in Graissessac, Hérault.