Reflections on ideology

Lessons from Pierre Bourdieu and Luc Boltanski

Bibliographic Data

ID4481873
AuthorsSimon Susen (0000-0003-0643-1891, City, University of London, corresponding author)
Year2014
Volume124
Issue1
Pages90-113
Publication date2014-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThesis Eleven (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0725-5136 • E-ISSN: 1461-7455
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0725513614552444
OpenAlexW2163627853
LanguageEN
Citations received23
References cited15

The main purpose of this article is to demonstrate the enduring relevance of the concept of ideology to contemporary sociological analysis. To this end, the article draws upon central arguments put forward by Pierre Bourdieu and Luc Boltanski in 'La production de l'idéologie dominante' ['The Production of the Dominant Ideology']. Yet, the important theoretical contributions made in this enquiry have been largely ignored by contemporary sociologists, even by those who specialize in the critical study of ideology. This article intends to fill this gap in the literature by illustrating that useful lessons can be learned from Bourdieu and Boltanski's critical investigation, as it provides crucial insights into the principal characteristics and functions of ideologies, including the ways in which they develop and operate in advanced capitalist societies. The article is divided into two main parts: the first part examines various universal features of ideology; the second part aims to shed light on several particular features of dominant ideology. The paper concludes by arguing that the 'end of ideology' thesis, despite the fact that it raises valuable sociological questions, is ultimately untenable

Critical theory · Epistemology · Ideology · Political science · Politics · Social science · Sociology · Cultural Industries and Urban Development · Law · Management and Organizational Studies · Philosophy · Social and Cultural Dynamics

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