A Negative Sociology of the State: Thinking the State with Pierre Bourdieu

Year 2023, Volume: 7 Issue: 2, 659 - 674, 30.11.2023

Gürhan Özpolat

https://doi.org/10.33709/ictimaiyat.1294753

Abstract

This article explores Pierre Bourdieu’s theory on the state’s pivotal role in producing and perpetuating social order, symbolic power, and domination. Bourdieu challenges the traditional view of the state as a monolithic entity and emphasizes its function as a generator of symbolic capital. According to Bourdieu, the state is the central bank of symbolic capital, confers privileges and authorizations upon social actors, thereby cements its position as the monopoly of legitimate symbolic violence. He contends that the state operates within a universe of belief, much like a sorcerer, and its power lies in its capacity to make itself invisible while maintaining social order. By examining the state as a meta-field, Bourdieu challenges conventional state theories, uncovering the underlying power dynamics and interests within the bureaucratic sphere. In conclusion, Bourdieu’s multifaceted perspective on the state provides a robust framework for understanding the intricate interplay of symbolic power, domination, and social order. This article highlights the importance of critically analysing the state’s role in shaping collective beliefs and underscores the necessity of comprehensively understanding state power, encompassing both its symbolic and material dimensions.

Keywords

bureaucratic field, genetic sociology, negative sociology, symbolic capital, symbolic power

Bir Negatif Devlet Sosyolojisi: Pierre Bourdieu ile Devleti Düşünmek

Abstract

Bu makale Pierre Bourdieu’nün devletin toplumsal düzen, simgesel iktidar ve tahakkümün üretilmesi ve sürdürülmesindeki önemli rolüne ilişkin teorisini incelemektedir. Bourdieu, devletin monolitik bir varlık olduğu yönündeki geleneksel görüşe karşı çıkmakta ve simgesel sermaye üreticisi olarak işlevini vurgulamaktadır. Bourdieu’ye göre devlet, simgesel sermayenin merkez bankasıdır, toplumsal aktörlere ayrıcalıklar ve yetkiler verir, böylece meşru simgesel şiddet tekeli olarak konumunu sağlamlaştırır. Devletin, tıpkı bir büyücü gibi, bir inanç evreni içinde faaliyet gösterdiğini ve gücünün, toplumsal düzeni sağlarken kendini görünmez kılma kapasitesinde yattığını iddia eder. Devleti bir meta alan olarak inceleyen Bourdieu, geleneksel devlet teorilerine meydan okuyarak bürokratik alanın altında yatan güç dinamiklerini ve çıkarları ortaya çıkarır. Sonuç olarak, Bourdieu’nün devlete ilişkin çok yönlü perspektifi, simgesel iktidar, tahakküm ve toplumsal düzenin karmaşık etkileşimini anlamak için sağlam bir çerçeve sunmaktadır. Bu makale, devletin kolektif inançları şekillendirmedeki rolünü eleştirel bir şekilde analiz etmenin önemini vurgulamakta ve devlet iktidarını hem simgesel hem de maddi boyutlarını kapsayacak şekilde kapsamlı bir şekilde anlamanın gerekliliğinin altını çizmektedir.

Keywords

bürokratik alan, genetik sosyoloji, negatif sosyoloji, simgesel sermaye, simgesel iktidar

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