Existing, resisting and acting through micro-gestures: when everyday life becomes political

“Social ties are what keep a society standing. Law is not enough. Even less so the market”(trad. by the authors) says Gaël Giraud, at Le Monde journalist during the AFD (French Developement Agency) conference in December 2018 (Khan 2019). During the interview, he talks about the RCI (Relational Capability Index) he built with philosopher Cécile Renouard and other researchers. This index is rooted in relational anthropology (Giraud et al. 2013, p1), with the aim of redefining the notion of develop- ment. According to the authors, certain individuals who are“financially”poor can nevertheless be surrounded to such an extent that they can meet their daily needs, and benefit from relationships and networks that enable them to find financial and professional springboards. Relationships thus appear to be a structuring element in offering individuals the capacity to build new trajectories of emancipation.