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Bourdieu, Habitus and Field

A Critical Realist Approach

  • Book
  • © 2023

Overview

Authors:
  1. Sadiya Akram

    1. History, Politics and Philosophy, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK

    View author publications

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  • Draws parallels between Bourdieu’s practice-based approach to habitus and critical realist ontology
  • Argues that habitus is a critical concept at the intersection of structure and agency
  • Links meta-theory to empirical problems, showing how ontological questions inform social analysis

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Relational Sociology (PSRS)

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Table of contents (7 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xv
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Bourdieu: From Epistemology to Ontology

    • Sadiya Akram
    Pages 1-23

  3. Critical Realism: Ontology in an Era of Ontological Scepticism

    • Sadiya Akram
    Pages 25-58

  4. Habitus: A Critical Realist Interpretation

    • Sadiya Akram
    Pages 59-106

  5. Field: Bourdieu and Beyond

    • Sadiya Akram
    Pages 107-138

  6. A Bourdieusian Approach to Institutions

    • Sadiya Akram
    Pages 139-185

  7. Habitus: From Theory to Method? A Six-Point Heuristic

    • Sadiya Akram
    Pages 187-209

  8. Taking Bourdieu into the World

    • Sadiya Akram
    Pages 211-221

  9. Back Matter

    Pages 223-228
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Keywords

About this book

This innovative book argues that establishing an ontological framework makes a substantial difference to Pierre Bourdieu’s core concepts of habitus and field. In doing so it addresses the charges of determinism, tautology, and circularity that have long been directed at habitus and field. Teasing out Bourdieu’s ontology, the book offers a novel critical realist reading of Bourdieu, arguing that while Bourdieu explored the epistemological basis of his key concepts, he neglects their ontological underpinnings, and that elaborating on this adds a layer of depth and complexity which enriches Bourdieu’s project. In addition to articulating the synergies between Roy Bhaskar’s critical realism and Bourdieu’s oeuvre, this book extends Bourdieu’s insights in new and exciting directions by developing an ontologically informed Bourdieusian account of institutions as explored through the lens of institutional racism and by outlining a unique methodological approach to habitus.

Reviews

“In this innovative and rigorously researched rethinking of Bourdieu’s conceptual tool-kit, Sadiya Akram develops a rich, nuanced analysis that develops and expands on Bourdieu’s thinking in exciting new ways. Starting with Bhaskar’s critical realism, and weaving a compelling empirical case study of institutional racism into her account, Akram generatively fleshes out a Bourdieusian conception of social reality for the 21stcentury.” (Professor Diane Reay, Professor of Education, University of Cambridge, UK) 


“This book takes Bourdieu's thought in new directions. Deftly deploying the lens of critical realism, Akram allows us to reinterpret Bourdieu’s insights into institutions, habitus, and fields. This is a must read for anyone interested in Pierre Bourdieu’s lasting legacy in social theory.” (Professor Julian Go, Professor of Sociology, University of Chicago)


“This is an importantbook, as it delves deeply into the epistemological and ontological foundations of the work of Pierre Bourdieu, throwing new light on his key concepts and suggesting ways in which they can be applied to the understanding of ordinary, everyday life. As such, this is vital reading for students and scholars of Bourdieu’s work, as well as for those working in critical realism.” (Professor Ian Burkitt, Emeritus Professor, University of Bradford)


Authors and Affiliations

  • History, Politics and Philosophy, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK

    Sadiya Akram

About the author

Sadiya Akram is a Senior Lecturer in Politics at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. Sadiya’s research is concerned with race and racism, concepts of agency and political mobilisation. The socio-political thought of Pierre Bourdieu is a focal point of her work. 

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Bourdieu, Habitus and Field

  • Book Subtitle: A Critical Realist Approach

  • Authors: Sadiya Akram

  • Series Title: Palgrave Studies in Relational Sociology

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41846-4

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham

  • eBook Packages: Social Sciences, Social Sciences (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-031-41845-7Published: 28 November 2023

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-031-41848-8Due: 29 December 2023

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-031-41846-4Published: 27 November 2023

  • Series ISSN: 2946-4110

  • Series E-ISSN: 2946-4129

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XV, 228

  • Number of Illustrations: 3 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Sociological Theory, Ontology, Social Structure, Social Inequality, Social Philosophy

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