Fabien Truong is a sociologist, filmmaker and a writer.
He is a member of the Cresppa-CSU in Paris, lecturer at Paris 8 University, former fellow at Princeton’s Institute for Advanced Study.
As a sociologist, he conducts long-term ethnographic fieldworks in the outskirts of Paris (banlieues) which have lead to several sociology books : Des capuches et des hommes (2013), Jeunesses françaises (2015/2022), Loyautés radicales (2017/2025) and, with Gérôme Truc, Grands ensemble (2025). Radicalized Loyalties is available in English (2018, Polity Press).
He codirects with Paul Pasquali the French social sciences book series L’envers des faits at La Découverte.
As a filmmaker, he has released two documentary films: Les défricheurs (2019) with Mathieu Vadepied ; Dance Map (2025). He has also cowritten the dance journey of the 1st edition of La Ville dansée (2024).
As a writer, he is the author of a narrative non fiction, La taille des arbres (2022) and a novel, Routines (2024).
Books
Radicalized Loyalties
There is widespread concern today about the “radicalization” of young Muslims. But how do young Muslims growing up in the cities of the West really live?
La taille des arbres
Vietnam, Nouvelle-Calédonie. À travers deux voyages en étoile depuis la ville de Saint-Denis, une revisite sensible de l’histoire coloniale.
Jeunesses françaises
Ancien prof de lycée dans le « 9-3 » devenu sociologue, Fabien Truong accompagne une vingtaine d’anciens élèves après leur bac jusqu’à la fin de leurs études.
Des capuches et des hommes
À travers des entretiens avec trois « jeunes de banlieue », Radouane, Tarik et Eliott, le portrait d’une jeunesse aux trajectoires ambivalentes.