ED Mathématiques et Informatique
Development of annotation methods to characterize single cell data. Applications in oncology.
by Yanis ASLOUDJ (LaBRI - Laboratoire Bordelais de Recherche en Informatique)
The defense will take place at 14h00 - Amphi LaBRI Laboratoire Bordelais de Recherche en Informatique (LaBRI) Domaine universitaire, 351 cours de la Libération, 33405 Talence
in front of the jury composed of
- Patricia THEBAULT - Professeure des universités - Université de Bordeaux - Directeur de these
- Emmanuelle BECKER - Professeure des universités - Université de Rennes - Rapporteur
- Jacques VAN HELDEN - Professeur des universités - Aix-Marseille Université - Rapporteur
- Fleur MOUGIN - Professeure des universités - Université de Bordeaux - CoDirecteur de these
- Rodolphe THIEBAUT - Professeur des universités - praticien hospitalier - Université de Bordeaux - Examinateur
- Delphine POTIER - Chargée de recherche - Aix-Marseille Université - Examinateur
In recent years, data production in biology has experienced an unprecedented growth, driven by the development of high-throughput sequencing technologies, whose scope of application continues to expand. The new sequencing technologies developed to target a single cell are one example of this expansion. In oncology, these new data are crucial to improve our understanding of the development and the heterogeneity of a tumor, by identifying the different cell types (or cell states) that compose it. At a patient level, a comprehensible mapping of this heterogeneity opens the way to new therapies of personalized medicine. The characterization of this cellular heterogeneity requires the use of automatic or manual methods, in order to propose the annotation of an individual cell (or a group of similar cells), based on the expression of its genes. In this context, the aim of this thesis project is to develop new methods for annotating single-cell data, at the intersection of several disciplines, such as bioinformatics and computer science (knowledge representation and visualization, in particular).
Modeling and dynamic optimization of software radio chains on heterogeneous architectures
by Diane ORHAN (LaBRI - Laboratoire Bordelais de Recherche en Informatique)
The defense will take place at 10h00 - Amphithéatre du LaBRI LaBRI, 351, cours de la Libération F-33405 Talence cedex
in front of the jury composed of
- Denis BARTHOU - Professeure des universités - Bordeaux INP - Directeur de these
- Anne BENOIT - Full professor - École Normale Supérieure de Lyon - Rapporteur
- Chrisophe JEGO - Full professor - Bordeaux INP - CoDirecteur de these
- Jalil BOUKHOZBA - Full professor - ENSTA Institut Polytechnique de Paris, campus de Brest - Rapporteur
- Olivier BEAUMONT - Directeur de recherche - Inria de l'Université de Bordeaux - Examinateur
- Sid TOUATI - Professeur des universités - Université Côte d'Azur - Examinateur
- Jean-Marie GORCE - Professeur - INSA Lyon - Examinateur
High-performance computing refers to the use of supercomputers to solve complex problems requiring exceptional computing power, particularly in numerical simulations such as weather forecasting or fluid dynamics. These systems, organized into computing clusters, combine system administration, networking, hardware architecture, and software optimization. Supercomputers are composed of multiple computing nodes, each equipped with multi-core processors or even graphics cards, connected in a network that allows data exchange. Rather than executing a task on a single machine, problems are divided and parallelized. This allows simultaneous execution on multiple resources. There are two forms of parallelism: inter-node, where communication between nodes is critical but resources are abundant, and intra-node, where processors share memory, facilitating communication but with more limited resources. In this context, streaming applications, particularly software defined radio, take advantage of intra-node parallelism. Stream computing differs from batch processing. Data is processed as it arrives, without accumulating input data. The processing filters are organized in a pipeline, with each stage being executed by a different computing resource. This mechanism significantly increases throughput, which is an essential metric in applications such as video or radio broadcasting. This thesis aims to optimize the automatic allocation of resources for streaming applications on multicore architectures, first homogeneous and then heterogeneous. The first part of this work focuses on task chain scheduling on homogeneous multicore architectures. The problem is modeled as a pipeline workflow scheduling problem. The objective is to maximize throughput by exploiting pipeline parallelism and task replication. Two algorithms are proposed: a dynamic programming approach to obtain an optimal solution, and OTAC, an optimal greedy algorithm that guarantees high throughput while minimizing resource usage. Experiments show that OTAC quickly produces optimal partitions with reduced resource usage. The emergence of hybrid processors composed of high-performance cores (core-P) and energy-efficient cores (core-E) introduces new challenges: execution times vary depending on the assignment. The objective becomes twofold: to maximize throughput while minimizing energy consumption, favoring the use of efficient cores. The second part therefore focuses on resource allocation for task chains on heterogeneous architectures. Three strategies are developed: two greedy heuristics (FERTAC and 2CATAC) and an optimal solution using dynamic programming (HeRAD). The results indicate that the heuristics achieve near-optimal performance while consuming very few additional resources. The last part of this work focuses on the management of multiple simultaneous streaming chains. In certain contexts such as embedded systems, IoT, or the cloud, several applications coexist on the same resources. The goal is then to intelligently distribute resources among several pipelines while satisfying throughput constraints without wasting resources. The last part explores allocation strategies adapted to the management of multiple task chains or task graphs. This thesis therefore makes several contributions to the optimization of streaming systems on parallel architectures, covering optimal scheduling, adaptation to heterogeneous architectures, and the coexistence of multiple simultaneous streams, with a constant focus on performance and energy efficiency.
ED Sciences Chimiques
Contribution of high-resolution mass spectrometry to the study of transformation products of contaminants of emerging concern
by Solenne REVERBEL (Environnements et Paléoenvironnements Océaniques et Continentaux)
The defense will take place at 14h00 - Salle de conférence du 3ème étage EST Bâtiment A12 - Salle de conférence du 3ème étage EST 351 Cours de la Libération 33405 Talence
in front of the jury composed of
- Hélène BUDZINSKI - Directeur de recherche - Université de Bordeaux - Directeur de these
- Bruno LE BIZEC - Professeur des universités - LABERCA - UMR Oniris/INRAE - Rapporteur
- Emmanuelle VULLIET - Directeur de recherche - CNRS - Institut des Sciences Analytiques - Rapporteur
- Julien LEROUX - Maître de conférences - LEESU - Université Paris-Est Créteil - Examinateur
- Patrick MAZELLIER - Professeur des universités - Université de Bordeaux - EPOC - Examinateur
- Marie-Hélène DéVIER - Maîtresse de conférences - Université de Bordeaux - EPOC - Co-encadrant de these
Water resources are of significant environmental concern in the coming decades. The quality of aquatic environments, which ultimately receive human emissions, is influenced by a multitude of factors, including chemical contamination. At present, the characterisation of chemical contamination is generally based on analyses targeting a limited number of known molecules. Nevertheless, this targeted approach does not provide a comprehensive assessment of chemical contamination in natural waters. Once released into an aquatic environment, organic contaminants are subject to degradation by various biotic and abiotic processes that may occur in wastewater treatment plants and aquatic environments. This molecular degradation can be associated with the formation of novel compounds, known as transformation products. These compounds are often scarcely studied in water, and yet they can sometimes prove to be more toxic and persistent than the parent compound from which they originate. Currently, the characterisation of these little-known compounds relies on high-resolution mass spectrometry. In this context, studies on the degradation of organic contaminants were initially conducted in different matrices (i.e., ultrapure water, wastewater treatment plant effluent). The studies employed targeted analyses to investigate the degradation kinetics of molecules and to determine the kinetics of formation of already known transformation products. Furthermore, non-targeted and suspect analyses using high-resolution mass spectrometry also identified unknown transformation products. Subsequently, the formation of transformation products via different reaction pathways was studied upstream and downstream of wastewater treatment plants. A comprehensive analytical approach involving suspect and untargeted analyses was employed to identify organic contaminants and their associated transformation products in raw and treated water samples from eight wastewater treatment plants. This methodology, besides enabling the identification of both known and unknown transformation products, also allowed for the evaluation and comparison of various treatment processes with regard to their capacity to eliminate and generate transformation products. Finally, high-resolution mass spectrometry analyses were also carried out on a river upstream and downstream of a discharge point in order to assess the introduction of these compounds into surface waters via wastewater discharge. These analyses enabled the documentation of the occurrence of transformation products in surface water by detecting (i) transformation products discharged into surface water via wastewater discharge, and (ii) transformation products initially present upstream of the discharge point.
synthesis and characterization of indium-based crystalline and vitreous oxyfluorides : correlation between composition, structure and luminescence properties
by Alizée DESLANDES (ICMCB - Institut de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Bordeaux)
The defense will take place at 15h00 - COP-1168, auditorium Université Laval Pavillon d'optique photonique 2375 rue de la Terrasse Québec, QC G1V 0A6 CANADA
in front of the jury composed of
- Younes MESSADDEQ - Professeur - COPL - Université Laval - CoDirecteur de these
- Gaël POIRIER - Professeur - Universidade Federal de Alfenas - Rapporteur
- Thierry CARDINAL - Directeur de recherche - ICMCB - CNRS - Directeur de these
- Sandrine PERRUCHAS - Chargée de recherche - Institut des Matériaux de Nantes (IMN) / CNRS - Rapporteur
In optoelectronics and photonics, the development of new crystalline or glass-ceramic compositions that are optically active in the visible or the infrared range represents a major commercial challenge. To address this need, oxyfluoride phases are prime candidates, as they allow for the emergence of new properties by tuning existing oxide compositions. The oxyfluoride compositions studied in this manuscript contain indium, an element widely used in optoelectronics. The first section of this study explores the impact of the oxidation state of indium on the structure of the new Ruddlesden–Popper-type crystalline phase Ba2-xSrxInO3-yF1-z, in which the expression of the In⁺ lone pair, influenced by the barium/strontium substitution, can lead to an order–disorder transition between the apical anions of its coordination polyhedron. Solid-state synthesis routes yielded single crystals as well as highly crystallized powders. Detailed analysis of X-ray diffraction data combined with ¹⁹F NMR measurements provided a precise representation of the crystal structures, revealing anionic vacancies associated with the stabilization of monovalent indium. These defects play a key role in the observed photoluminescence properties. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations further support these findings. In the second part of the manuscript, the novel xGeO₂ – (1-x)(BaF₂ – SrF₂ – ½ In₂O₃) glass system is developed. This is also an oxyfluoride composition containing indium, barium, and strontium. Glass-ceramics exhibiting transparency in the visible and near-infrared regions were obtained from this system and crystallize into the SrF₂ phase. Finally, the effect of Eu³⁺ and Er³⁺ doping on the structure reveals a reduction in crystallite size and partial segregation of the rare-earth dopants into a low-phonon-energy environment, resulting in an increased luminescence lifetime.
Development of synthetic and natural polyelectrolyte complexes sensitive to formulation pathways for localized and sustained release of hydrophilic antibiotics.
by Romain HELLO (Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal)
The defense will take place at 14h00 - Amphithéatre du CRPP 115 Avenue du Dr Albert Schweitzer, Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal,33600 Pessac
in front of the jury composed of
- Jean-Paul CHAPEL - Directeur de recherche - Université de Bordeaux - Directeur de these
- Laurence MOINE - Directrice de recherche - INSTITUT GALIEN PARIS-SACLAY - Rapporteur
- Jérôme FRESNAIS - Directeur de recherche - Sorbonne - Laboratoire PHENIX - Rapporteur
- Mónica BRAVO ANAYA - Chargée de recherche - Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes - Examinateur
- Jean-Christophe BARET - Professeur des universités - Université de Bordeaux - Examinateur
This thesis is part of the development of innovative systems for localized and controlled antibiotic delivery, aimed at preventing post-surgical and implant-associated infections. The adopted approach relies on polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs), formed through electrostatic interactions between oppositely charged polyions. In this work, we leveraged the out-of-equilibrium nature of certain complexation processes to modulate the encapsulation and co-assembly of hydrophilic therapeutic agents, as well as their release kinetics. The first phase focused on a model system based on the PDADMAC/PSS pair, enabling a deeper understanding of PEC formation mechanisms and the identification of key parameters, pH, charge ratio, ionic strength, and formulation method, that influence their structure and release behavior. Cefazolin (CFZ), an anionic antibiotic, was used as a model compound. Results showed that the formulation protocol strongly determines the final structure of the complexes, yielding release profiles ranging from 30 minutes to over 48 hours depending on experimental conditions. The second phase of the study shifted toward materials more suitable for biomedical applications, notably chitosan (CHI) and hyaluronic acid (HA), both biocompatible and biodegradable. Fine-tuning of formulation conditions (pH, order of addition, drying methods) helped reduce the initial burst release and extend the sustained release of CFZ up to 144 hours. Bacterial viability assays on Escherichia coli further confirmed that CFZ's antibacterial activity was fully preserved after encapsulation. In parallel, preliminary tests with gentamicin, a cationic antibiotic, demonstrated the system's transferability to other hydrophilic active compounds without requiring major adaptations. These findings highlight the strong potential of PECs as modular platforms for prolonged topical antibiotic delivery, particularly in surgical contexts.
ED Sciences de la Vie et de la Santé
Genome and surfaceome engineering in the bovine pathogen Mycoplasma bovis - first steps toward building a vaccinal chassis
by Patrick HOGAN (BFP - Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie)
The defense will take place at 14h00 - amphithéâtre Institut des Sciences de la Vigne et du Vin 210 Chem. de Leysotte, 33140 Villenave-d'Ornon
in front of the jury composed of
- Pascal SIRAND-PUGNET - Professeur - Université de Bordeaux - Directeur de these
- Philippe LANGELLA - Directeur de recherche - INRAE, MICALIS - Rapporteur
- Claude GUTIERREZ - Professeure émérite - Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse III - Rapporteur
- Rohini CHOPRA-DEWASTHALY - Associate Professor - University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna - Examinateur
- Nienke BUDDELMEIJER - Chargée de recherche - Institut Pasteur - Examinateur
- Florence TARDY - Directrice de recherche - ANSES - Examinateur
Facing a worldwide demographic increases, the agricultural sector must intensify production while maintaining a durable approach. Among the major obstacles faced is the rise of infectious diseases, including those caused by mycoplasmas which impact the farmers through production losses and decreased animal health and well-being overall. Mycoplasma bovis in particular causes a wide variety of high morbidity clinical manifestations in infected ruminants, with its main hosts, cattle and bison, more largely effected. M. bovis is also a primary pathogen in the BRD (Bovine Respiratory Disease) complex, the single largest health issue faced by the feedlot industry. The uphill fight against M. bovis is rife with mounting obstacles such as increasing antibacterial resistance and limited protection from available vaccines. My research was conducted within the context of the ANR project RAMbo-V (Rational Approach to A Mycoplasma Bovis Vaccine), that aims to develop knowledge and tools that would allow to conceptualise a vaccine strain expressing protective antigens at the cell surface. The first part of my work focuses on the improvement of a CRISPR Base-Editor tool recently adapted for targeted mutagenesis in mycoplasma. It uses a Cas9-deaminase hybrid protein to generate targeted deamination of cytosines, leading to premature stop codons to knockout genes of interest. Editing was conducted in parallel on two strains of M. bovis: PG45 (reference strain) and RM16 (INRAE field strain). This part of the manuscript is presented through a pre-published article focused on PG45 and dedicated to the various improvements that were made on the existing tool: demonstrations of multigene targeting; elimination of the CRISPR-Base Editor from the generated mutant; and increasing the number of potentially targetable genes through modification of PAM recognition specificity of Cas9. We also evaluated the specificity and limitations of these tools for the genome engineering of M. bovis through whole genome sequencing of generated mutants, evidencing intra-genomic movement of insertion sequences and potential off-target deamination sites. In the second part of this work, we study the use of the newly develop tools to modulate the expression of surface proteins. This was done through the specific targeting of one of the main virulence factors of M. bovis that is used to escape and undermine the host immune system. The Variable Surface Protein (Vsp) locus allows for antigenic variation at the surface of M. bovis through variable expression of lipoproteins that are highly immunogenic. The Vsp are also considered to be a major part of the M. bovis surfaceome and the antigenic variation mechanism is put forward as one of the obstacles for effective immune responses and vaccination. To further the conceptualisation of a synthetic vaccine against M. bovis infection, we blocked Vsp variation by targeting the associated Xer recombinase and attempted to prevent Vsp expression totally in a phase-locked mutant, with the aim of clearing the cell surface for the expression of recombinant proteins that could modulate an effective immune response down the line. Our results indicate that the expression of at least one Vsp may be involved in the fitness of M. bovis grown in axenic medium. The results obtained herein demonstrate the possibilities offered by these tools, but also their limitations and the specific obstacles linked to the genomic instability of the M. bovis PG45 strain. They show the importance of the choice of strains used in the design of new vaccines and the need to control genomic stability to ensure control of the presentation of protective antigens at the cell surface. Overall, our work has expanded the toolbox for genome engineering and functional genomic of M. bovis, and could be further expanded to other mycoplasma species with limited adaptation.
ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIAL OF PULSED LIGHT TO IMPROVE GRAPEVINE HEALTH
by Sara PLATA VEGA (Oenologie)
The defense will take place at 14h30 - Amphithéâtre Colette & Josy Bové Centre INRAE Bordeaux-Aquitaine, bâtiment B2, 71 Avenue Edouard Bourlaux, 33140, Villenave d'Ornon
in front of the jury composed of
- Nathalie GAVEAU - Professeure - Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, RIBP - USC INRAE 1488 - Rapporteur
- Cécile CABASSON - Maître de conférences - Université de Bordeaux, UMR 1332 BFP - Examinateur
- Frédéric DELMAS - Maître de conférences - Université de Bordeaux, UMR 1332 BFP - Examinateur
- Alain BOUCHEREAU - Professeur - Université de Rennes, UMR 1349 INRAE, Institut Agro Rennes Angers - Rapporteur
Reducing pesticide use in vineyards represents a major environmental and societal challenge. In this context, this thesis investigates the potential of an innovative light-based technology, pulsed light, as a physical alternative to conventional plant protection methods. Originally developed for decontamination purposes, this technology relies on the emission of intense, broad-spectrum light pulses, covering wavelengths from ultraviolet to infrared. Pulsed light was evaluated for its protective effect against two major grapevine pathogens: Plasmopara viticola (downy mildew) and Botrytis cinerea (gray mold). In vitro assays under laboratory conditions were carried out to characterize the direct antimicrobial activity of various spectral profiles and to determine their fungistatic or curative potential. Additionally, semi-controlled assays on grapevine leaf cuttings assessed the potential phytotoxicity of the treatments as well as their ability to induce plant defense responses. The objective was to identify a light spectrum that is both effective against pathogens and non-phytotoxic, while also promoting the accumulation of protective compounds, including specialized metabolites. Following the identification of an optimal spectral range, field trials were conducted using a prototype device, applying treatments at different phenological stages of grapevine development. Disease progression, particularly that of downy mildew (symptom severity and incidence), was monitored throughout the growing season to assess treatment efficacy. Furthermore, the effects of treatments on both primary and specialized metabolism in leaves and berries were analyzed.
ED Sociétés, Politique, Santé Publique
Comparative study of inclusive internationalisation practices in higher education in France and Quebec. The case of Chinese students in international mobility
by Xiaoyu XU (Laboratoire Cultures, Education, Sociétés)
The defense will take place at 13h30 - Salle du Conseil Université de Bordeaux, 3ter Pl. de la Victoire, 33000 Bordeaux
in front of the jury composed of
- Régis MALET - Professeur - Université de Bordeaux - Directeur de these
- Philippe TREMBLAY - Professeur - Université Laval - Rapporteur
- Martine DERIVRY-PLARD - Professeure - Université de Bordeaux - Examinateur
- Hervé BRETON - Professeur - Université de Tours - Rapporteur
- Cui BIAN - Professeure associée - Université Normale de Shanghai - Examinateur
- Elisabeth ISSAIEVA - Maîtresse de conférences - INSEI - Examinateur
- Magdalena KOHOUT-DIAZ - Professeure - Université de Bordeaux - Examinateur
This thesis analyses, based on the experiences and perceptions of Chinese students, how internationalisation practices in higher education in France and Quebec, particularly reception and support mechanisms, influence acculturation and inclusion beyond mere superficial integration. It answers five questions concerning internationalisation policies and implementation, the influence of student pathways, institutional strategies at the University of Bordeaux and the University of Montreal, the structure of social networks, and the possibility of genuine and reciprocal inclusion. The theoretical framework articulates internationalisation, mobility/motility, acculturation and inclusion. At the macro level, internationalisation is placed within the dynamics of globalisation and its tensions (economic imperatives vs educational ideals). At the meso level, reception policies and architectures are compared between France and Quebec. At the micro level, the students' lived experience is examined (trajectories, languages, sociability, learning). This progression from macro to micro provides a basis for analysing the intercultural experiences of mobile students and the reception practices of host institutions in the destination countries. The methodology used is qualitative and based on an interpretative approach and constructivist epistemology. The research adopted a multiple and comparative case study strategy, choosing the University of Bordeaux in France and the University of Montreal in Quebec. This choice is justified by the fact that these two fields share a similarity in language and status, while presenting distinct socio-political and cultural contexts (republican universalism vs. multiculturalism/interculturalism). Data were collected using a triangulation of methods: a questionnaire to identify trends, semi-structured interviews to capture the subjectivity of experiences, and analysis of secondary data from digital platforms (such as Xiaohongshu) and institutional documents to contextualise the narratives. The main findings reveal that starting capital and motility directly influence mobility trajectories, from the decision to study abroad to future career plans. Analysis of mobility experiences shows that settling in and linguistic ecology are tests of adaptation and negotiation, where students develop pragmatic strategies to overcome barriers. The structure of Chinese students' social circles is organised into a habitable ‘in-between' space, between a homogeneous circle (Chinese peers) offering emotional support and heterogeneous circles (local, international) promoting intercultural learning. The study of reception systems shows that there is a gap between institutional strategies and student perceptions, with the ‘quality in use' of services depending on their responsiveness and their ability to convert rights into concrete solutions. Ultimately, the profound impacts of mobility go beyond professional achievements to touch on the transformation of values, identity and resilience. In conclusion, the thesis proposes an integrative explanatory model: the ‘relational ecology of inclusion'. This model highlights the need for synergistic alignment between macro policies, meso mechanisms and micro practices for internationalisation to be truly inclusive. The overall conclusion emphasises the need to move from superficial internationalisation (focused on quantity and profits) to reciprocal inclusion (based on the recognition of otherness and the mutual transformation of the host system and the student), charting a course towards a more authentic and humane higher education.
Advocating for human rights and developing the rule of law in Morocco: how can the legitimacy of reforms be established under a regime of consensual constraint?
by Irene LIZZOLA (Les Afriques dans le Monde)
The defense will take place at 14h00 - Salle Copernic Sciences Po Bordeaux, 11 allée Ausone, Domaine universitaire, 33607 Pessac
in front of the jury composed of
- Baudouin DUPRET - Directeur de recherche - Sciences Po Bordeaux - Directeur de these
- Assia BOUTALEB - Professeure des universités - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - Rapporteur
- Frédéric VAIREL - Professeur - Université d'Ottawa - Rapporteur
- Cécile VIGOUR - Directrice de recherche - Sciences Po Bordeaux - Examinateur
- Julie BILLAUD - Professeure associée - Institut de hautes études internationales et du développement (IHEID) - Examinateur
- Amin ALLAL - Chargé de recherche - Université de Lille - Examinateur
What form does human rights advocacy take in the face of a repressive regime? In line with scholarship that encourages us to localize the international and study the dynamics of the circulation of norms, this thesis draws on contributions from international political sociology as well as the sociology of development, mobilization, and public action in authoritarian contexts. Based on a qualitative survey conducted between 2019 and 2022 among Moroccan and European human rights activists, this thesis analyzes the discourse and practices of mobilization carried out by professionalized and internationalized actors who are confronted with Moroccan institutions. It focuses in particular on the demands of associations for criminal policy reform, and especially the abolition of the death penalty. It highlights the multi-faceted positions of these advocates, who are simultaneously engaged in several struggles, such as promoting “good governance” in security matters and reopening the debate on the right to truth in connection with investigations into serious human rights violations committed during the “years of lead.” To understand the dynamics of interaction between advocates and their audiences, the thesis introduces the concept of “consensual constraint,” which refers to the process of mutually constructing the audibility of causes. By “constraint,” we mean the form that this interaction with power takes, as anticipated in part by advocates in their advocacy, depending on the degree of tolerance for criticism by the authorities. In a constrained space for mobilization, these actors impose on themselves a reduction in the range of possibilities in order to negotiate with those in power. This involves forms of self-censorship, moderation of demands, and their inscription in a legalistic, expert register that is presented as apolitical. By “consensual,” we emphasize that this constraint is co-constructed: cause lawyers adapt to the implicit demands of compromise that allow them to maintain interaction with the recipients of their advocacy. The thesis examines the domestication of demands for reform relating to “good-punishing” particularly those put forward by the abolitionist movement. This analysis is based on the expert grammar of these demands, their elitist nature, and their externalization with regard to political tensions. Driven by a militant, modernist, and internationalized elite, these demands are part of development projects and partnership agreements involving state institutions. In this repressive context, Moroccan advocates and their transnational partners accommodate themselves to the constraints that frame their action. They capitalize on the convergence between their interests and those of the institutional apparatus. In an effort to legitimize the dynamics of cooperation and partnership, they display the apolitical nature of their struggle, appropriating the developmentalist rhetoric that accompanies the promotion of democracy, the rule of law, and “good governance.” Finally, the thesis analyzes how advocates deal with this consensual constraint, on the one hand by seizing opportunities for dialogue facilitated by state authorities and, on the other hand, by challenging those same authorities through requests for or the implementation of investigations into the violations attributable to the state. While remaining aligned with their targets on a set of common references—human rights, the rule of law, democracy—advocates challenge, to varying degrees, the respect and effective implementation of these principles. The legitimacy acquired by causes that are part of this shared grammar allows their promotion, despite their degree of subversion vis-à-vis state narratives.