Date: Thu, 25 Jan 1996 16:52:35 +0100
From: reillier-AT-grolier.fr (Fred Reillier)
Subject: french and international perception of Bourdieu's work


Hello. I'm new to this group (and french, so my english must be somewhat
rustic :-)

I'm a sociology student, working on a PhD thesis about the history of
British sociology. I'm also very interested in Bourdieu's works (isn't that
original?)

I'm currently trying to understand how Bourdieu's theory of classes has
been understood, perceived and integrated into the british sociological
tradition. Commentaries about his works are strikingly different in France
and in the UK (and in other countries also, I suppose), and this puzzles
me.

Shortly put, I would say that in France, Bourdieu is often (not always)
perceived as a very partial, intolerant and politically engaged type of
sociologist, and his position in the institutional landscape is at the same
time central (le college de France) and very marginal (Many "professional"
sociologists dont even read the "actes de la recherche" and pretend to
ignore him). He is the "guru" of a powerful but isolated "sociological
sect". In Britain, he is perceived as one of the great living sociologists,
and often linked with the french post-structuralist and post-modernist
thinkers (Lyotard, Derrida, etc=8A).

(I dont want to take you too long. Hope these few sketchy ideas make
sense.If you want more, I'll try to be more precise)

Does someone have an interpretation, an idea, or a theory about these
"different versions of Bourdieu's theory" according to the country ?


*********************************
* Frederic Reillier             *
* Grolier Interactive Europe    *
* reillier-AT-grolier.fr           *
*********************************
Nous commencons par soulever la poussiere, puis nous pretendons etre
incapables de voir. Berkeley.


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