Bourdieu, Habitus and Field: A Critical Realist Approach

What difference does establishing an ontological framework make to Pierre Bourdieu's core concepts of habitus and field? This innovative book argues that it makes a substantial difference and, furthermore, that doing so addresses the charges of determinism, tautology, and circularity that have long been directed at habitus and field. Teasing out Bourdieu's ontology, Akram offers a novel critical realist reading of Bourdieu, arguing that while Bourdieu explored the epistemological basis of his core 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, an issue which is neglected by Bourdieu and his interlocuters. A dedicated chapter outlining a methodological approach to habitus will also prove useful to those who find theoretical value in the concept but are unclear about its methodological implications.