Biblioteca Digital de VanguardiaBourdieu’s class theory
What explains the enormous popularity of Bourdieu’s critical theory in US academia and particularly in sociology? This paper considers two answers. One is that Bourdieu offers a compelling macrosociological account of contemporary society similar in scale to those of Marx, Weber, or Durkheim. Howeve...
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| Formato: | info:eu-repo/semantics/article |
| Lenguaje: | Portugués |
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FCL-UNESP Laboratório Editorial
2019
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| Acceso en línea: | https://periodicos.fclar.unesp.br/estudos/article/view/12245 http://biblioteca-repositorio.clacso.edu.ar/handle/CLACSO/63330 |
| _version_ | 1782337793339424768 |
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| author | Riley, Dylan |
| author_facet | Riley, Dylan |
| author_sort | Riley, Dylan |
| collection | Repositorio |
| description | What explains the enormous popularity of Bourdieu’s critical theory in US academia and particularly in sociology? This paper considers two answers. One is that Bourdieu offers a compelling macrosociological account of contemporary society similar in scale to those of Marx, Weber, or Durkheim. However, a close examination shows that Bourdieu fails in this task. His work offers neither an empirically supported class analysis nor an account of social reproduction or social change. Thus, I conclude that Bourdieu’s popularity cannot be a result of the power of his explanations. There is, however, a second answer: that Bourdieu’s sociology is popular because of the specific social conditions in US academia today. In this context, where intellectuals win rewards by pursuing a strategy of distinction, where they lack much organizational connection to popular movements, and where their material interests lie in a defense of their privileges, Bourdieu’s sociology is highly attractive. It effectively resonates with academics’ lived experience and serves to articulate their most fundamental political interests. |
| format | info:eu-repo/semantics/article |
| id | clacso-CLACSO63330 |
| institution | CLACSO, Repositorio Digital |
| language | Portugués |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| publisher | FCL-UNESP Laboratório Editorial |
| record_format | greenstone |
| spelling | clacso-CLACSO633302022-03-18T18:33:41Z Bourdieu’s class theory La teoría de las clases de Bourdieu A teoria das classes de Pierre Bourdieu Riley, Dylan Pierre Bourdieu Sociological theory Social classes Pierre Bourdieu Teoría sociológica Clases sociales Pierre Bourdieu Teoria sociológica Classes sociais What explains the enormous popularity of Bourdieu’s critical theory in US academia and particularly in sociology? This paper considers two answers. One is that Bourdieu offers a compelling macrosociological account of contemporary society similar in scale to those of Marx, Weber, or Durkheim. However, a close examination shows that Bourdieu fails in this task. His work offers neither an empirically supported class analysis nor an account of social reproduction or social change. Thus, I conclude that Bourdieu’s popularity cannot be a result of the power of his explanations. There is, however, a second answer: that Bourdieu’s sociology is popular because of the specific social conditions in US academia today. In this context, where intellectuals win rewards by pursuing a strategy of distinction, where they lack much organizational connection to popular movements, and where their material interests lie in a defense of their privileges, Bourdieu’s sociology is highly attractive. It effectively resonates with academics’ lived experience and serves to articulate their most fundamental political interests. ¿Qué explica la enorme popularidad de la teoría crítica de Bourdieu en la academia y, particularmente, en la sociología de los Estados Unidos? Este ensayo examina dos respuestas. Una es que Bourdieu ofrece una explicación macrosociológica convincente de la sociedad contemporánea, a la altura de aquellas de Marx, Weber o Durkheim. Sin embargo, un examen más detallado muestra que Bourdieu falla en esta tarea. Su trabajo no ofrece ni un análisis de las clases anclado empíricamente, ni una explicación de la reproducción o del cambio social. Por lo tanto, mi conclusión es que la popularidad de Bourdieu no puede ser el resultado del poder de sus explicaciones. Hay, no obstante, una segunda respuesta: la sociología de Bourdieu es popular debido a las condiciones sociales específicas en la academia de Estados Unidos hoy en día. En este contexto, en que intelectuales ganan recompensas al perseguir una estrategia de distinción, en que no tienen mucha conexión organizativa con los movimientos populares y en que sus intereses materiales se encuentran en la defensa de sus privilegios, la sociología de Bourdieu es altamente atractiva. Ella realmente resuena la experiencia vivida de los académicos y sirve para articular sus intereses políticos más fundamentales. O que explica a enorme popularidade da teoria crítica de Bourdieu na academia e, particularmente, na sociologia dos EUA? Este ensaio examina duas respostas. Uma é que Bourdieu oferece uma explicação macrossociológica convincente da sociedade contemporânea, à altura daquelas de Marx, Weber ou Durkheim. Entretanto, um exame mais rigoroso mostra que Bourdieu falha nessa empreitada. Seu trabalho não oferece nem uma análise das classes ancorada empiricamente, nem uma explicação da reprodução ou da mudança sociais. Assim, concluo que a popularidade de Bourdieu não pode ser resultado do poder de suas explicações. Há, porém, uma segunda resposta: a sociologia de Bourdieu é popular por causa das condições sociais específicas à academia dos EUA hoje. Nesse contexto, em que intelectuais ganham recompensas ao perseguir uma estratégia de distinção, em que eles não têm muita conexão organizativa com os movimentos populares e em que seus interesses materiais se encontram na defesa de seus privilégios, a sociologia de Bourdieu é altamente atrativa. Ela efetivamente ressoa a experiência vivida dos acadêmicos e serve para articular seus interesses políticos mais fundamentais. 2019-07-29 2022-03-18T18:33:41Z 2022-03-18T18:33:41Z info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion https://periodicos.fclar.unesp.br/estudos/article/view/12245 10.52780/res.12245 http://biblioteca-repositorio.clacso.edu.ar/handle/CLACSO/63330 por https://periodicos.fclar.unesp.br/estudos/article/view/12245/8390 Copyright (c) 2019 Estudos de Sociologia application/pdf FCL-UNESP Laboratório Editorial Estudos de Sociologia; v. 24 n. 46 (2019): Dossiê: Para além da distinção: condicionantes sociais do gosto e disputas simbólicas na contemporaneidade 1982-4718 1414-0144 |
| spellingShingle | Pierre Bourdieu Sociological theory Social classes Pierre Bourdieu Teoría sociológica Clases sociales Pierre Bourdieu Teoria sociológica Classes sociais Riley, Dylan Bourdieu’s class theory |
| title | Bourdieu’s class theory |
| title_full | Bourdieu’s class theory |
| title_fullStr | Bourdieu’s class theory |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bourdieu’s class theory |
| title_short | Bourdieu’s class theory |
| title_sort | bourdieu’s class theory |
| topic | Pierre Bourdieu Sociological theory Social classes Pierre Bourdieu Teoría sociológica Clases sociales Pierre Bourdieu Teoria sociológica Classes sociais |
| url | https://periodicos.fclar.unesp.br/estudos/article/view/12245 http://biblioteca-repositorio.clacso.edu.ar/handle/CLACSO/63330 |