Symbolische Gewalt, Normalisierungsdispositiv und/oder Stigma? Soziologie der Behinderung im Anschluss an Goffman, Foucault und Bourdieu

Is Pierre Bourdieu??s sociology helpful in order to analyse dis/ability as social construction? As a first step, this paper offers a sketch of the German-speaking sociology of disability. Subsequently, it considers two approaches which are already established in this discourse. Erving Goffman??s stigma theory focuses on ??doing dis/ability??, but it reveals a naturalistic core, when it comes to phenomena of embodied difference. Drawing on Michel Foucault, his discourse analysis and theory of power, one can analyse ??making dis/ability?? by using the dimensions of discourse, discipline, normativity and normalization, but the level of agency tends to be neglected. Thirdly, the article looks at Bourdieu??s concept of symbolic violence as a possible contribution to the sociology of disability. This concept proposes that dis/ability can be described as an embodied effect of power relationships; it brings the aspect of ??being disabled?? into view. Finally, the paper discusses the added value created by the triangulation of the three theoretical approaches; it concludes with suggestions to be drawn from the analysis of disability for the sociology after Bourdieu.     

Symbolische Gewalt und ihr potenzielles Scheitern. Eine Ann?herung zwischen Butler und Bourdieu

The article discusses the similarities and differences between the contributions of Pierre Bourdieu and Judith Butler regarding symbolic power. While both share core arguments such as the discursive constitution of symbolic power, its disguised effectiveness due to naturalization processes, and the notion that symbolic power is part of domination (as it is interwoven with the social logic of personal recognition), there are also important differences between Butler and Bourdieu. Latter insists on discerning the social dimension of discourse??asking who speaks from which position???from the immanent linguistic realm of discourse. Butler instead highlights the impossibility of separating the social from the discursive and stresses the imponderability of discursive acts due to their performativity and iterative logic. Thus, Butler argues, ??social imperatives?? (Bourdieu) can and actually do ??fail??. This becomes especially evident within processes of subjectivation (Butler). Considering the systematic possibility of ??failure?? in Butlers work, I argue that Butler and Bourdieu offer distinct notions of critique: While Butler??s notion is framed as heterotopy (Foucault), Bourdieu??s is utopic.     

Praktiken der Grenzüberschreitung und die Grenzen des Feldparadigmas

So far, the phenomenon of the so-called avant-garde has rarely been the subject of sociological scrutiny. In order to approach the historical avant-garde in sociological terms, Pierre Bourdieu??s field concept is applied. This sheds new light on the avant-garde, which traditionally has been subject to related disciplines. However, Bourdieu??s field theory fails to capture the empirical phenomenon of the historical avant-garde sufficiently. This suggests that sociology ought to regard the principle of the avant-garde as a distinct concept.     

Die m?nnliche Herrschaft: ein somatisiertes Herrschaftsverh?ltnis

Bourdieu understands masculine domination to be both a paradigmatic form and an extreme case of symbolic domination. Bourdieu??s argumentation in hisMasculine Domination is outlined, highlighting the key importance of the somatization of domination as well as the fact, more or less neglected in the general discussion, that in relations of symbolic domination those who exercise domination are imprisoned in this relation, as well. Key points of the criticism concerning this argumentation are discussed, in particular the standard objection of structural determinism raised against the concept of habitus, and new research perspectives are proposed.     

Bourdieu 1993: Ein Fallbeispiel einer wissenschaftlichen Ehrung

Drawing on archival materials and personal testimonies, I reconstruct the conditions under which Bourdieu came to receive the Gold Medal of the National Center for Scientific Research, France’s highest science prize, in 1993 as a signal case study of the existential predicament and institutional trappings of scholarly consecration. Bourdieu’s award speech and the ceremony at which he read it present a triple interest for the history and sociology of sociology. They illustrate how a shaping figure in the discipline personally experienced, reflexively viewed, and practically navigated the nexus of science, authority, and power. They mark 1993 as a pivot-year in Bourdieu’s intellectual evolution, leading to a new agenda foregrounding the state as paramount symbolic power, the alchemy of group formation, and the unfinished promise of democratic politics; and they help explain why he ventured more forthrightly into civic debate in the 1990s. Bourdieu’s ambivalent acceptance of the prize also illustrates his conception of the ‘Realpolitik of reason’ and put an emphatic end to the eclipse of Durkheim by restoring sociology to its rightful place at the scientific zenith in the country of its birth.     

Die symbolische Macht der Individualisierung und der Kampf um die Kritik

In the article we highlight an aspect of the crisis of criticism which we call ??speechlessness of criticism??. The heterogeneous criticism cannot be bundled up to a critical story any more. A common language with explicatory pictures and grammars is missing. Two explanations are offered for the ??speechlessness?? of criticism: the changes of the normative power of justification orders and the individualisation process. Both developments are a symbolic power which can explain the speechlessness of the criticism of capitalism at least partially. After the sketch of the symbolic power of the legitimation order of project and individualisation, starting points for a renaissance of criticism are analysed. Finally we explore the relevance of a reflexive combination of critical sociology and sociology of criticism for the concept of a critical sociology of criticism.     

Subjektivierung Distinktion Narzissmus

The work on subjectification tends to put actors in a victimized position and to restrain itself on organizational discourse and cultural analyses. The article proposes a sociostructural and -psychological enhancement of perspective. The concepts of distinction and symbolic violence will give a more accurate picture of class specific conditions, meanings and effects of subjectification in flexible capitalism. Concepts of narcissism theory improve our understanding of subjectification??s attraction through its relation to the antagonistic psychodynamic of impotence, omnipotence and fear. Not at last, this enhancement of perspective will allow for a better reflection on subjectification??s entanglement with power and dominance in the interest of its emancipatory potentials.     

Emergence and Development of LGBTQ Studies in Post-Socialist Bulgaria

ABSTRACT

This article explores the development of LGBTQ studies and scholarship in Bulgaria. In part, it brings to the forefront the personal experiences of some of the first Bulgarian scholars working on LGBTQ studies. The personal is interpreted in part through explorations of Bourdieu’s concept of “symbolic violence.” Elaborating on the challenges regarding the emergence and the development of LGBTQ studies on an institutional and personal level, I discuss three main topics: (1) the emergence and the development of LGBTQ scholarship and university courses in Bulgaria; (2) the main institutional obstacles and the “symbolic violence” within the academia against scholars dealing with LGBTQ subjects, including issues of funding, evaluation, and discrimination; and (3) the future development of the subject in Bulgaria, with a particular attention to the need for “LGBTQ studies solidarity” to overcome the disadvantaged position of LGBTQ scholars in post-socialist countries.     

Soziale Klasse in der Arbeitssoziologie. Zur Relevanz eines totgesagten Begriffs

Social class as analytical term has a longstanding tradition in sociology. Starting with Karl Marx and Max Weber international class analysis has developed heterogenous theoretical and empirical approaches. The paper outlines trends in the usage of social class in industrial sociology and the sociology of work in German-speaking countries from the after-war period to the paradigmatic shift heralded by Becks individualization thesis. The displacement of social class is interpreted as manifestation of symbolic struggles over the legitimate view of social reality, which has created considerable blind spots in the analysis of social inequalities. With reference to recent international developments in class research Pierre Bourdieu’s approach is used to explore ways to connect current subject-orientated approaches with questions of social class. Focussing on the class formation of subjectivity draws attention to the development of different orientations towards work and the dealing with the exigencies of work.     

Die Krise als Chance? Eine habitustheoretische Dekonstruktion des Bew?ltigungsbegriffs

This article focuses on a critical reflection of the concept of coping as well as its deconstruction based on the habitus approach. The transformation of the notion of subject in the context of socialisation theory with regard to risk and individualisation will be reflected. Such approaches conceptualise identities as flexible resources. In contrast, Bourdieu??s concept of habitus implies a theoretical perspective on coping that considers appropriately the possibilities and boundaries of action.     

Anerkennung und Geschlecht im kulturellen Feld. Zur Unterrepr?sentanz von DJ-Frauen in elektronischen Musikszenen

This article explores the reasons for the under-representation of female DJs in electronic dance music scenes using twelve interviews conducted with Viennese Techno- and Drum??n?? Bass-DJs. Pierre Bourdieu??s theory on the cultural field serves as the theoretical framework and the Grounded Theory as the methodology. My research results show that the under representation of female DJs can be substantially traced back to the following social practices: Female DJs are often excluded from informal scene networks and they receive less recognition for their DJ performances than male DJs; moreover the attributes necessary for success are ascribed to male DJs, whereby men are engendered as ??good?? DJs within the field. The idea that men would be ??good?? DJs corresponds with the idealized notion of successful and assertivemasculinity in our society.     

Visuelle Wissenssoziologie der Fotografie

The article sketches the outlines to a visual sociology of knowledge of photography. It begins with a discussion of the epistemological and methodical approaches to photography by Roland Barthes and Pierre Bourdieu, and it reflects upon the theoretical and analytic conceptions of the art historians Erwin Panofsky and Max Imdahl in regard to their significance for an empirical visual sociology. Based on this, Erving Goffmans metaphor of the frame is introduced for the sociological analysis of photographs between single frames, picture contexts, and social milieus. A photograph taken from current everyday communication is used for the illustration and for the empirical testing of the methodological and methodical considerations.     

Genetische Diskriminierung und soziale Ungleichheit. Hierarchiebildungen am Beispiel der Erkrankung Hereditäre Hämochromatose

This article discusses possible interconnections between the analysis of genetic discrimination and the analysis of social inequalities. Findings from a survey focussing on individuals affected by hemochromatosis are presented; the survey was carried out as part of Germany’s first systematic study of genetic discrimination. The experiences and apprehensions described are discussed with reference to Bourdieu’s forms of capital interlinking with structures of social inequality. In conclusion, the analysis shows that genetic discrimination and the workings of social/symbolic, economic and cultural capital are mutually constitutive for the corresponding hierarchy formation.     

?Hegemoniale M?nnlichkeiten‘ alsnarrative Distinktionspraxis im Wissenschaftsspiel

The paper focuses theoretically and methodologically on the analysis of narrative constructions of gender from the perspective of sociology of science. It contributes to discussions about extending discourse analytical perspectives by impulses from theories of social practice. Thus it suggests analyzing scientific narratives as routinized ??strategic fictions?? in the context of gendered boundary work. Additionally, it draws on recent discussions on the concept of ??hegemonic masculinity?? as a generative principle and asks theoretically about practices in the course of which multiple, complex and context-specific versions of hegemonic masculinity are drafted as the outcome of discursive struggles and also of the competition among men. The empirical analysis thus reconstructs narrative practices of symbolically distinguishing and situating gendered actors in the social field of science. This is illustrated at the example of the professionalization of modern German engineering in the time period from the 1870ies until the turn of the century. In their writings engineering scholars initially composed the ??scientist of machinery?? as the symbolically neutralized position of objectivity by following a narrative of progress. Later the engineer as the ??man of action?? displaced the former concept by now stressing a narrative of a prehistorical origin of technological man whose competence is a gift of the nature of his sex. Both narratives are interpreted as an, in each case, specific mode of masculinity construction in order to struggle for a dominant position not only with respect to women but also to other social groups of men.     

Konkurrentinnen außer Konkurrenz?

The ratio of women in managerial positions is to be sure an essential indicator for assessing modern gender relations. The current situation yet appears quite ambiguous. Women do have reached lower and middle management levels, whereas top levels still seem inaccessible for most of them. How is this phenomenon of “inclusion with incomplete integration” to be explained? Taking on the debate of informal boundary work and on the ground of Bourdieu’s concepts of social distinction and habitus, this article focuses on the persistency and transformations of access barriers.     

Makrosoziologie f��r Individualisten. Zur Kritik und Verteidigung kollektivistischer Erkenntnisziele

In this paper it is asked for the existence of macro-sociological laws in a realist perspective if one accepts the existence of emergence and macrodetermination. R. Keith Sawyers?? theory of emergence which favours the search for causal macro-laws will be criticised. He imports the argument of multiple realisation and wild disjunction from the philosophy of mind into sociology. But there are some weaknesses in his solutions to the problems dealt with which concerns action theory, reduction and macrodetermination, the difference between structural and efficient causality, and his ambiguous ontology. As a contraposition a realist ontology of social wholes will be outlined which combines contemporary ontology and anthropology. Accordingly holistic social wholes are build on intentional intertwinments between actors. All social wholes are of discrete, not of continuous nature. Therefore causal laws on a macro-social level seem to be impossible. But a classical argument of Peter Blau shows that non-causal laws of coexistence on the macro-level are possible. Therefore, an independent aim of macro-sociological research could be the search for macro-social laws of coexistence.     

Bastler — Sammler — Spurensucher. Zum Verhältnis von Geschichte und Systematik der soziologischen Theorie nach Robert K. Merton

For the history of sociology not to lose its relevance to the discipline, it should not be understood as a biographically oriented parade of recognized and forgotten classics, but rather complement sociological theory. Writing upon these premises, the historian of sociology would cease to act as the discipline's identity engineer who, considering the competitive field of theories and subjects, conservatively serves sociology to find and stabilize its historical identity. Furthermore, s/he would no longer operate as collector of ideas in search in the history of sociology for concepts of sociological analysis that were abandoned at some point, and in doing so, would cease to pursue the objective of critically undermining the dominating paradigms in contemporary sociology. On the contrary, since the ‘historic turn’ in the philosophy of science, the historian of sociology has to take up a trace-tracking role. In contrast to Robert K. Merton's stance, the theory and history of sociology should not be understood as two separate ventures. Rather, the genealogical exploration will lead to a historical epistemology of disciplinary paradigms that emphasizes that theoretical paradigms must be analyzed within the social context of their genesis. Such an approach would enable us to systematically identify the prerequisites and range of contemporary theoretical paradigms. Beyond Merton's former analysis, theory construction in sociology requires that systematic and historical reconstructions go hand-in-hand.