Yves Winkin

At various times, he worked with Pierre Bourdieu in France, as well as Goffman, Dell Hymes, and Ray Birdwhistell in the US, leading to his efforts to share research across international borders.

Born in Verviers, Belgium, Winkin's undergraduate specializations at the University of Liège were philosophy (1972–1974) and information and communication sciences (1974–1976).

[2] Winkin was a faculty member at the University of Liège in Belgium (1976–99), moving to the École Normale Supérieure de Lyon in France, first as a faculty member, then as deputy director in charge of Research and International Relations, finally as Director of the Institut français de l’Éducation (the French national institute of education).

[16] When Goffman's dissertation was published online, Winkin was chosen to write the introduction and frame the work for readers.

[19] Most often in collaboration with Swiss scholar Sonia Lavadinho, Winkin has analyzed urban walking as an example of enchantment, most significantly in two books.

[20][21] In 2021, a conference devoted to enchantment was held at Cerisy-la-Salle, honoring his contributions to the topic, resulting in the publication of a book.