Investigations of Social Space: Introduction

Abstract

More than 15 years after his death, Pierre Bourdieu (1930–2002) is without question one of the leading social scientists of the twentieth century. Not only has his work been cited to an almost unparalleled degree; the principles guiding his research are increasingly employed across many disciplines within and outside the social sciences. However, even today, this comprehensive reception of Bourdieusian concepts, and the research carried out using them, suffers from a relative lack of attention to the methodological implications and foundations of his work. The aim of this book is to explicate the research principles and methodology of Bourdieusian sociology and to contribute to its continuing systematic elaboration.