Doctoral course "Revisiting the sociological work of Pierre Bourdieu" - Session #1

Doctoral course "Revisiting the sociological work of Pierre Bourdieu" co-hosted by Philippe Aldrin and Cyriac GOUSSET.

Cycle of 6 sessions open to doctoral students and researchers in the lab.

This is a research training cycle, aimed primarily at doctoral students in the social sciences, with the aim of presenting the scientific approach, theoretical and conceptual apparatus, methodologies and objects developed by Bourdieu in the course of his research. The workshop is open to all social science researchers..

A landmark work in the social sciences, P. Bourdieu's sociology is now the subject of sustained interest in Anglo-Saxon and international academic circles. Twenty years after his death, Bourdieu is recognised as one of the great French intellectuals of the twentieth century, and was recently named "the most cited sociologist in the United States" by the European Journal of Sociology. His body of work continues to grow, with posthumous editions of his lectures at the Collège de France: Sur l'État, 2012; Manet, une révolution symbolique, 2013; the two volumes of Sociologie générale, 2015 and 2016; L'intérêt au désintéressement, 2022 and previously unpublished texts (Microcosmes, 2023).

His approach, particularly field theory, is being reinvested and discussed to explore the transformations of the journalistic field (R. Benson, E. Neveu, Bourdieu and the Journalistic Field, 2005), the social theory of international relations (F. Mérand, V. Pouliot, "Le monde de Pierre Bourdieu : Éléments pour une théorie des Relations internationales", Revue canadienne de science politique) or the political dimensions of the sociological act (M. Burawoy, K. von Holdt, Conversations with Bourdieu, 2012). In France, we might mention the publishing project recently launched by Editions du Croquant, which proposes a rereading of public action in the light of field theory (in particular the collective work directed by V. Dubois, Les structures sociales de l'action publique. Analyser les politiques publiques avec la sociologie des champs, 2023).

Despite this legacy, Bourdieu's work remains divisive in the French social sciences. It still draws a dividing line between, on the one hand, those who see themselves as part of a kind of legacy of his sociology and, on the other, those who do not even consider reading him or basing their research on his work. In contrast to this passionate relationship with Bourdieu, this doctoral workshop envisages an incursion into Bourdieu's sociological work in concrete terms, with a view to grasping his theoretical intentions and methodological protocols in order to derive possible tools for his research. The cycle offers readings and aims to create a space for exploration and discussion around a singular practical conception of the sociologist's profession.

Each of the speakers will review his or her own sociological approach, and share and discuss his or her relationship to Bourdieu's approach and concepts. It goes without saying that the spirit of the sessions will be that of a seminar, that is to say, a moment of relaxed exchange, with nothing at stake other than listening to each other and discussing. In order to maintain the immediacy and fluidity of the exchanges, and also to limit the risks of technical breakdowns, the workshop will take place exclusively face-to-face.

Each session is divided into 3 parts:

- In-depth presentation of the theme by the workshop coordinators

- Presentations by researchers using/discussing Pierre Bourdieu's concepts or methods

- Debate with all participants

The last two sessions will take place over a full day, with guests who have recently published research that puts Pierre Bourdieu's toolbox to work.

In order to follow all the sessions and to have access to the 'portfolio of texts' containing texts by Pierre Bourdieu and articles by the speakers for each session, it is recommended that you register with the seminar coordinators: philippe.aldrin(at)sciencespo-aix.fr; cyriac.gousset(at)gmail.com.