Despite their very privileged status in society, academics – the jewel of the national intelligentsia – are not necessarily happy men and women, as demonstrated by the authors of this very amusing analysis of their professional lives, whether they are teaching, supervising or producing research projects, being evaluated, or in charge of various and increasingly challenging administrative tasks, etc. They have to deal with setbacks, dissatisfaction – and sometimes stupid attitudes. In an essay that David Lodge would not disown, academics are captured in their "besieged" state.

André Cabanis, a professor at the Centre toulousain d'histoire du droit et des idées politiques (CTHDIP), is an expert on the history of law and French and African institutions.

Michel-Louis Martin heads the Research Group on Security and Governance at Université Toulouse 1 Capitole-IEP Toulouse.