Social Topography and Class Analysis: The Relational Sociology of Pierre Bourdieu

Öz

With the increasing fragmantation and proliferation of different social lives, class analysis has more daunting tasks and challenges to overcome. This diversity and fragmantation in social hierarchy has brought new discussions that are paving the way for a sociological outlook that can grasp the complex nature of late capitalist societies. Bourdieu’s theory of capital and social hierarchy occupies a central place within the contemporary discussions. His conception of capital, social field and power provides a wealthy set of tools to utilize. At the same time, those theoretical designs have led to methodological debates on Bourdieu’s intentions and lineage with other sociological traditions such as Marxist, Weberian and Phenomenological theories. Among the discussions, the central role must be given to the notion of relationality, a crucial attempt in Bourdieu’s conception of class heirarchy as social space. Without the stress on relationality, Bourdieu’s complex terminology cannot be organized sufficently to answer the questions; “what is social heirarchy and how it operates?”. The article aims to discuss the linkage between the key concepts on class analysis to portrait the relational character of social space and its relevance with the class hierarchy in modern societies.

TOPLUMSAL TOPOGRAFYA VE SINIF ANALİZİ: PIERRE BOURDIEU’NUN İLİŞKİSEL SOSYOLOJİSİ

Öz

With the increasing fragmantation and proliferation of different social lives, class analysis has more daunting tasks and challenges to overcome. This diversity and fragmantation in social hierarchy has brought new discussions that are paving the way for a sociological outlook that can grasp the complex nature of late capitalist societies. Bourdieu’s theory of capital and social hierarchy occupies a central place within the contemporary discussions. His conception of capital, social field and power provides a wealthy set of tools to utilize. At the same time, those theoretical designs have led to methodological debates on Bourdieu’s intentions and lineage with other sociological traditions such as Marxist, Weberian and Phenomenological theories. Among the discussions, the central role must be given to the notion of relationality, a crucial attempt in Bourdieu’s conception of class heirarchy as social space. Without the stress on relationality, Bourdieu’s complex terminology cannot be organized sufficently to answer the questions; “what is social heirarchy and how it operates?”. The article aims to discuss the linkage between the key concepts on class analysis to portrait the relational character of social space and its relevance with the class hierarchy in modern societies.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Bourdieu
• toplumsal alan
• ilişkilsellik
• habitus
• toplumsal sınıf

Kaynakça

1. BOURDIEU, Pierre (1979), Outline of a Theory of Practice, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
2. BOURDIEU, Pierre (1985), “The Social Space and the Genesis of Groups”, Theory and Society, n:14.
3. BOURDIEU, Pierre (1987), “What Makes a Social Class: on the Theoretical and Practical Existence of Groups”, Berkeley Journal of Sociology, n:32.
4. BOURDIEU, Pierre (1990), The Logic of Practice, Oxford, Polity Press.
5. BOURDIEU, Pierre (Ed.) (1990), In Other Words: Essays Toward a Reflexive Sociology, Cambridge, Polity Press.
6. BOURDIEU, Pierre, Loic Wacquant (1992), An Invitation to Reflexive Sociology, Cambridge, Polity Press.
7. BOURDIEU, Pierre (1996), Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgment of Taste, London, Routledge Press.
8. BOURDIEU, Pierre (1998), Practical Reason: On the Theory of Action, Oxford, Polity Press.

9. BRAVERMAN, Harry (1974), Labor and Monopoly Capital, New York , Monthly Review Press.
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14. JENKINS, Richard (1992), Pierre Bourdieu, Key Sociologists, Routledge, New York.
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17. SWARTZ, David (1997), Culture and Power: The Sociology of Pierre Bourdieu, Chicago, The University of Chicago Press. WACQUANT, Loic J.D. (1993), “From Ruling Class to Field of Power: An Interview by Pierre Bourdieu on La Noblesse d’Etat”, Theory, Culture and Society, n:10.