Bourdieu’s class theory

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Riley, Dylan
Publication Date: 2019
Format: Article
Language: por
Source: Estudos de Sociologia
Download full: https://periodicos.fclar.unesp.br/estudos/article/view/12245
Summary: 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.
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spelling Bourdieu’s class theoryLa teoría de las clases de BourdieuA teoria das classes de Pierre BourdieuPierre BourdieuSociological theorySocial classesPierre BourdieuTeoría sociológicaClases socialesPierre BourdieuTeoria sociológicaClasses sociaisWhat 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.FCL-UNESP Laboratório Editorial2019-07-29info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionapplication/pdfhttps://periodicos.fclar.unesp.br/estudos/article/view/1224510.52780/res.12245Estudos de Sociologia; v. 24 n. 46 (2019): Dossiê: Para além da distinção: condicionantes sociais do gosto e disputas simbólicas na contemporaneidade1982-47181414-0144reponame:Estudos de Sociologiainstname:Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)instacron:UNESPporhttps://periodicos.fclar.unesp.br/estudos/article/view/12245/8390Copyright (c) 2019 Estudos de Sociologiainfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessRiley, Dylan2019-07-29T21:59:09Zoai:ojs.pkp.sfu.ca:article/12245Revistahttp://seer.fclar.unesp.br/estudosPUBhttp://seer.fclar.unesp.br/estudos/oaistraud.fclar@unesp.br||estudosdesociologia@fclar.unesp.br||maria.jardim@unesp.br1982-47181414-0144opendoar:2019-07-29T21:59:09Estudos de Sociologia - Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)false
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Bourdieu’s class theory
La teoría de las clases de Bourdieu
A teoria das classes de Pierre Bourdieu
title Bourdieu’s class theory
spellingShingle Bourdieu’s class theory
Riley, Dylan
Pierre Bourdieu
Sociological theory
Social classes
Pierre Bourdieu
Teoría sociológica
Clases sociales
Pierre Bourdieu
Teoria sociológica
Classes sociais
title_short Bourdieu’s class theory
title_full Bourdieu’s class theory
title_fullStr Bourdieu’s class theory
title_full_unstemmed Bourdieu’s class theory
title_sort Bourdieu’s class theory
author Riley, Dylan
author_facet Riley, Dylan
author_role author
dc.contributor.author.fl_str_mv Riley, Dylan
dc.subject.por.fl_str_mv Pierre Bourdieu
Sociological theory
Social classes
Pierre Bourdieu
Teoría sociológica
Clases sociales
Pierre Bourdieu
Teoria sociológica
Classes sociais
topic Pierre Bourdieu
Sociological theory
Social classes
Pierre Bourdieu
Teoría sociológica
Clases sociales
Pierre Bourdieu
Teoria sociológica
Classes sociais
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.
publishDate 2019
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2019-07-29
dc.type.driver.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.uri.fl_str_mv https://periodicos.fclar.unesp.br/estudos/article/view/12245
10.52780/res.12245
url https://periodicos.fclar.unesp.br/estudos/article/view/12245
identifier_str_mv 10.52780/res.12245
dc.language.iso.fl_str_mv por
language por
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://periodicos.fclar.unesp.br/estudos/article/view/12245/8390
dc.rights.driver.fl_str_mv Copyright (c) 2019 Estudos de Sociologia
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv Copyright (c) 2019 Estudos de Sociologia
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv FCL-UNESP Laboratório Editorial
publisher.none.fl_str_mv FCL-UNESP Laboratório Editorial
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv 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
reponame:Estudos de Sociologia
instname:Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
instacron:UNESP
instname_str Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
instacron_str UNESP
institution UNESP
reponame_str Estudos de Sociologia
collection Estudos de Sociologia
repository.name.fl_str_mv Estudos de Sociologia - Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
repository.mail.fl_str_mv straud.fclar@unesp.br||estudosdesociologia@fclar.unesp.br||maria.jardim@unesp.br
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