The important theories of Pierre Bourdieu and Alain Touraine, discussed in this book, seek to explain and resolve the 'crisis of democracy'. They start from a critique of structural inequality in political, economic and social fields - so much in contrast to democratic principles. But their theoretical perspectives and social conclusions diverge. Bourdieu insists on the radical overthrow of dominant institutions and their control of knowledge ('symbolic power'). Touraine advocates reformist cooperation as well as contestation between social movements and political institutions. Their different approaches provide compelling insights into the 'democratic deficit' of modern society, that is, inability to overcome the widespread discrimination affecting women, the weaknesses of the environmental movement, persisting educational inequalities and the precarious nature of work in a global economy.

Autorentext

JOHN GIRLING is a Researcher at the Australian National University and has written on Southeast Asia (especially Thailand), revolution and insurgency, U.S. foreign policy towards the Third World, corruption in theory and practice, political myths and French politics and society. He has been awarded fellowships in Singapore and at Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington.

Zusammenfassung
The 'social fracture' of modern societies, divided between dominant elites and subordinate citizens, is central to the critique of Alain Touraine ('social movements') and Pierre Bourdieu ('symbolic power'). Both insist that structural inequalities in social, economic and political fields are at the heart of the democratic malaise. Indeed, widespread inequality at work, in educational opportunities and access to social goods contradicts the founding principles of liberty, equality and fraternity. Touraine and Bourdieu differ, however, in their theoretical and practical conclusions. Touraine is reformist, advocating cooperation as well as contestation in relations between social movements (such as trade unions, environmentalists and feminists) and political institutions. Bourdieu, on the contrary, is radical, insisting on the overthrow of dominant structures of society, which not only physically enforce elite rule, but by the subtle diffusion of 'symbolic power' - whereby the dominated internalise ruling ideas - ensure that subordinate classes contribute to their own domination. Rather than emphasising conflict between radicalism and reformism, John Girling sees them as complementary: each needing the other to be effective. The mobilising force of social movements requires the inspirational goals of (transformed) symbolic power, which are not in the service of dominant structures, but are universal values worth striving for. It is in this way that the 'democratic deficit' of modern societies - constrained between the imperatives of the global economy and the disillusionment of citizens - can best be overcome.

Inhalt

Acknowledgements Introduction Social Critique: Discrimination and Inequality Touraine and Bourdieu: Two Perspectives Social Change: Radicalism or Reform Rights of Women: A Case Study Conclusion Appendix: Structure/Action Theories of Alain Bourdieu, Touraine, Giddens and Archer: A Comparison