Can critical theory work without the concept of ‘ideology’?: A Bourdieusian alternative perspective

Abstract

Analyzing Pierre Bourdieu’s concepts of field and habitus, as well as his theory of social reproduction, the paper aims at showing how Pierre Bourdieu’s perspective constitutes a valid theoretical candidate for developing a conception of domination that aims at going beyond the ideas of ideology and false consciousness. In this respect, the paper highlights how a focus on objective and subjective structural factors can contribute to explaining the stabilization and reproduction of unfair social orders without postulating a weakening of social actors’ critical skills.