Capitals, paths, strategies: P. Bourdien’s general theory of fields

Abstract

P. Bourdieu’s model of classes articulates the objective dimension —class structure— and the subjective dimension —class acion. This class analysis takes place around a debate about the nature of social reality in which the main point is the connexion between the production field and the subjects reproduction field. Bourdieu, in emphasizing the relational condition of the social area, defines the social action as relational structure dependent, because there is a logic connection between the agents located in a set of social relations and their interests, objectives and action strategies. In Bourdieu’s view there is an structuring efficiency of the social agents action by the class estructure, thus becoming an action matrix, or putting it better, a probabilistic structure of the action. Therefore, it’s basic to understand the role of the action in the construction of the classes, given that the theoric classes, fictitious associations that only exist on the paper, are predisposed to become classes in the marxist sense of the word. And on the paper classes become real classes only through a political activism work. Thus, class existence, in theory as in reality, it’s a bet of fightings in existing a social space, a differences space, in which classes exist in virtual state, not as something given, but as something that is trying to be constructed.