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Bringing Bourdieu''s Theory of Fields to Critical Policy Analysis
Laying down the foundations of a critical sociological approach to the interdisciplinary domain of public policy, this insightful book presents the first systematic reflection on the use of Bourdieu’s theory of social fields to analyse policy processes. Engaging with theoretical dimensions, it provides innovative methodological tools, both quantitative and qualitative in nature. Bringing together an array of eminent contributors and case studies from across the globe, it presents theoretical and methodological insights, as well as empirical information on national cases and policy sectors.
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Critical Acclaim
Contributors
Contents
More Information
Laying down the foundations of a critical sociological approach to the interdisciplinary domain of public policy, this insightful book presents the first systematic reflection on the use of Bourdieu’s theory of social fields to analyse policy processes. Engaging with theoretical dimensions, it provides innovative methodological tools, both quantitative and qualitative in nature, to be used in the wider field of policy studies.
Bringing together expert contributors from across the globe, the book explores a diverse range of case studies on various policy sectors and processes such as international policy circulation and policy implementation. Offering a wealth of critical analysis, chapters highlight the unsatisfactory nature of mainstream policy approaches and advocate for the use of Bourdieu’s sociological theory to account for the social milieus, structures of relationships and power dynamics in which public policies are made. Encompassing numerous actors and groups, this theory enables a critical sociological understanding of policy orientations by unveiling the structures of relationships in policymaking.
Innovative and perceptive in its approach, this book will prove to be an important resource for scholars and students interested in the fields of critical policy studies, public policy, public administration and management, and sociology.
Bringing together expert contributors from across the globe, the book explores a diverse range of case studies on various policy sectors and processes such as international policy circulation and policy implementation. Offering a wealth of critical analysis, chapters highlight the unsatisfactory nature of mainstream policy approaches and advocate for the use of Bourdieu’s sociological theory to account for the social milieus, structures of relationships and power dynamics in which public policies are made. Encompassing numerous actors and groups, this theory enables a critical sociological understanding of policy orientations by unveiling the structures of relationships in policymaking.
Innovative and perceptive in its approach, this book will prove to be an important resource for scholars and students interested in the fields of critical policy studies, public policy, public administration and management, and sociology.
Critical Acclaim
‘This excellent comparative collection brings a Bourdieusian-inspired field perspective to the sociology of public policy. Students of public policy who want to step outside of the traditional positivist, rationalist, institutionalist, or network studies of state-centered approaches will appreciate how these field analyses offer a more complete understanding of how public policies actually emerge.’
– David L. Swartz, Boston University, US
‘This volume is a timely and long-expected contribution, spanning over a wide range of countries and policy domains. The book delivers precisely what the title announces: It brings Bourdieu’s powerful theory of fields into a new domain – policy analysis – where it can provide a critical edge that this field of research has been waiting for. The book provides a range of valuable examples of how Bourdieu’s relatively abstract theory of fields may be operationalized and put to work in empirical analyses of new topics. The proof of the value of this theoretical approach lies in the insights the numerous empirical contributions provide into the complex working of the power struggles underlying policy formations. Highly recommended reading!’
– Annick Prieur, Aalborg University, Denmark
‘At last, a book on policy analysis which tackles head on power and its unequal distribution between policymakers. The authors not only use Bourdieu’s concept of the field to unpack power relations in a range of issue areas but also make significant contributions to Bourdieusien sociology and social theory.’
– Andy Smith, University of Bordeaux, France
– David L. Swartz, Boston University, US
‘This volume is a timely and long-expected contribution, spanning over a wide range of countries and policy domains. The book delivers precisely what the title announces: It brings Bourdieu’s powerful theory of fields into a new domain – policy analysis – where it can provide a critical edge that this field of research has been waiting for. The book provides a range of valuable examples of how Bourdieu’s relatively abstract theory of fields may be operationalized and put to work in empirical analyses of new topics. The proof of the value of this theoretical approach lies in the insights the numerous empirical contributions provide into the complex working of the power struggles underlying policy formations. Highly recommended reading!’
– Annick Prieur, Aalborg University, Denmark
‘At last, a book on policy analysis which tackles head on power and its unequal distribution between policymakers. The authors not only use Bourdieu’s concept of the field to unpack power relations in a range of issue areas but also make significant contributions to Bourdieusien sociology and social theory.’
– Andy Smith, University of Bordeaux, France
Contributors
Contributors include: Valentin Behr, Pierre Clément, Joan Cortinas Muñoz, Stephan Davidshofer, Victor Demenge, Vincent Dubois, Caroline Dufour, Didier Georgakakis, Jonas Hagmann, Paul Hathazy, Thomas Hélie, Elisa Klüger, Vincent Lebrou, Thomas Medvetz, Arthur Morenas, Jérémie Nollet, Brian F. O’Neill, Franck Poupeau, Florent Pouponneau, Melaine Robert, Antoine Roger, Lili Soussoko, Amal Tawfik
Contents
Contents:
Introduction to Bringing Bourdieu’s Theory of Fields to Critical
Policy Analysis 1
Vincent Dubois
PART I POLICY DOMAINS AS SOCIAL FIELDS
1 Constructing the field of educational power: socio-history
and structural analysis of two critical moments 18
Pierre Clément
2 The Brazilian National Development Bank’s public policy
examined through multiple correspondence analysis and
social network analysis 37
Elisa Klüger
3 Colorado River Basin water policy: using Bourdieu’s field
theory in the environmental policy arena 56
Brian F. O’Neill, Joan Cortinas Muñoz and Franck Poupeau
4 Security as a field of force: the case of Switzerland in the
mid-2010s 74
Stephan Davidshofer, Amal Tawfik and Jonas Hagmann
5 From the theory of the state to the sociology of public
policy fields in Latin America: the production of
economic policies in Peru 90
Arthur Morenas
PART II THE BUREAUCRATIC FIELD IN POLICY-MAKING
6 The bureaucratic field and the sociology of public policy:
from the structure of the administration to the production
of policies 109
Victor Demenge and Melaine Robert
7 The role of autonomization of the bureaucratic field in the
development of public policy: the case of Canadian food
safety policy 1874–1969 128
Caroline Dufour
8 Public policy as a product of the professional structure of
the bureaucratic field 134
Victor Demenge
PART III TWO INTERSTITIAL FIELDS: EXPERTISE
AND THINK TANKS
9 Interstitial knowledge: considerations based on the case of
expertise on radicalization in France 154
Lili Soussoko
10 On the strength of lesser fields: a reflection on public
policy think tanks and the concept of interstitial fields 173
Thomas Medvetz
PART IV POLICY AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FIELDS
11 The ‘grip’ of the journalistic field on national public
policy: a sociological explanation of a media-oriented
governmental decision 188
Jérémie Nollet
12 Relations between the scientific field and the bureaucratic
field in ‘authoritarian’ and ‘democratic’ contexts: history
policy in Poland 207
Valentin Behr
13 The relationship between the bureaucratic and the
entrepreneurial fields: shedding light on the contribution
of public policy to delimiting legitimate economic activities 214
Antoine Roger
PART V THREE POLICY PROCESSES REVISITED
WITH THE SOCIOLOGY OF FIELDS:
DECISION-MAKING, IMPLEMENTATION,
INTERNATIONAL CIRCULATION
14 Sociology of fields and the decision-making process: the
example of presidential cultural projects in France 235
Thomas Hélie
15 Analysing the implementation of European public
policy with the sociology of fields: some remarks on the
European Union’s regional policy 253
Vincent Lebrou
16 International policy circulation and fields of public policy
in the (Latin American) periphery 262
Paul Hathazy
PART VI THE EFFECTS OF INTERNATIONAL
CONFIGURATIONS ON PUBLIC POLICIES
17 What the field of eurocracy tells us about European policies 282
Didier Georgakakis
18 What the international field does to foreign policies 300
Florent Pouponneau
Conclusion to Bringing Bourdieu’s Theory of Fields to Critical
Policy Analysis 318
Vincent Dubois
Introduction to Bringing Bourdieu’s Theory of Fields to Critical
Policy Analysis 1
Vincent Dubois
PART I POLICY DOMAINS AS SOCIAL FIELDS
1 Constructing the field of educational power: socio-history
and structural analysis of two critical moments 18
Pierre Clément
2 The Brazilian National Development Bank’s public policy
examined through multiple correspondence analysis and
social network analysis 37
Elisa Klüger
3 Colorado River Basin water policy: using Bourdieu’s field
theory in the environmental policy arena 56
Brian F. O’Neill, Joan Cortinas Muñoz and Franck Poupeau
4 Security as a field of force: the case of Switzerland in the
mid-2010s 74
Stephan Davidshofer, Amal Tawfik and Jonas Hagmann
5 From the theory of the state to the sociology of public
policy fields in Latin America: the production of
economic policies in Peru 90
Arthur Morenas
PART II THE BUREAUCRATIC FIELD IN POLICY-MAKING
6 The bureaucratic field and the sociology of public policy:
from the structure of the administration to the production
of policies 109
Victor Demenge and Melaine Robert
7 The role of autonomization of the bureaucratic field in the
development of public policy: the case of Canadian food
safety policy 1874–1969 128
Caroline Dufour
8 Public policy as a product of the professional structure of
the bureaucratic field 134
Victor Demenge
PART III TWO INTERSTITIAL FIELDS: EXPERTISE
AND THINK TANKS
9 Interstitial knowledge: considerations based on the case of
expertise on radicalization in France 154
Lili Soussoko
10 On the strength of lesser fields: a reflection on public
policy think tanks and the concept of interstitial fields 173
Thomas Medvetz
PART IV POLICY AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FIELDS
11 The ‘grip’ of the journalistic field on national public
policy: a sociological explanation of a media-oriented
governmental decision 188
Jérémie Nollet
12 Relations between the scientific field and the bureaucratic
field in ‘authoritarian’ and ‘democratic’ contexts: history
policy in Poland 207
Valentin Behr
13 The relationship between the bureaucratic and the
entrepreneurial fields: shedding light on the contribution
of public policy to delimiting legitimate economic activities 214
Antoine Roger
PART V THREE POLICY PROCESSES REVISITED
WITH THE SOCIOLOGY OF FIELDS:
DECISION-MAKING, IMPLEMENTATION,
INTERNATIONAL CIRCULATION
14 Sociology of fields and the decision-making process: the
example of presidential cultural projects in France 235
Thomas Hélie
15 Analysing the implementation of European public
policy with the sociology of fields: some remarks on the
European Union’s regional policy 253
Vincent Lebrou
16 International policy circulation and fields of public policy
in the (Latin American) periphery 262
Paul Hathazy
PART VI THE EFFECTS OF INTERNATIONAL
CONFIGURATIONS ON PUBLIC POLICIES
17 What the field of eurocracy tells us about European policies 282
Didier Georgakakis
18 What the international field does to foreign policies 300
Florent Pouponneau
Conclusion to Bringing Bourdieu’s Theory of Fields to Critical
Policy Analysis 318
Vincent Dubois
