Abstract
In this chapter, I want to consider issues concerning higher education (HE) in general and in Ireland in particular from the perspective of the French social theorist Pierre Bourdieu. Bourdieu writes of developing a ‘new gaze’, or metanoia, on the world. Although a comprehensive exposition of such would be lengthy and beyond the scope of this chapter, it is possible to give some indications of the main tenets of such an approach to the focus of HE. What is it to see HE from this perspective? And, what does it buy us?
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Bourdieu, P. (1966) ‘La fin d’un malthusianismse?’ in Danas (ed.) Le Partage des bénéfices, expansion et inégalités en France (Paris: Minuit).
Bourdieu, P. (with Passeron, J.-C.) (1977/70) Reproduction in Education, Society and Culture (trans. R. Nice). (London: Sage); La Reproduction. Eléments pour une théorie du système d’Enseignement (Paris: Editions de Minuit).
Bourdieu, P. ( Passeron, J.-C.) (1979/64) The Inheritors, French Students and their Relation to Culture (trans. R. Nice). (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press); Les héritiers, les étudiants et la Culture (Paris: Les Editions de Minuit).
Bourdieu, P. (1990/1980) The Logic of Practice (trans. R. Nice) (Oxford: Polity); Le sens pratique. (Paris: Les Editions de Minuit).
Bourdieu, P. (1993) The field of cultural production (Cambridge, UK, Polity Press).
Bourdieu, P. (1996/1989) The State Nobility. Elite Schools in the Field of Power (trans. L. C. Clough). (Oxford: Polity Press); La noblesse d’état. Grandes écoles et esprit de corps. (Paris: Les Editions de Minuit).
Bourdieu, P. (1998c/1994) Practical Reason (Oxford: Polity Press); Raisons pratiques. Sur la théorie de l’action (Paris: Seuil).
Deer, C. (2003) ‘Bourdieu on Higher Education: The Meaning of the Growing Integration of Educational Systems and Self-Reflective Practice’. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 24(2): 195–207.
Grenfell, M. (2007) Pierre Bourdieu: Education and Training (London: Continuum).
Grenfell, M. (Ed.) (2008) Pierre Bourdieu: Key Concepts (second edition) (Durham: Acumen).
Grenfell, M. (2009) ‘Social Capital and Educational Policy’. Education, Knowledge and Economy 3(1): 17–34.
Grenfell, M. (2012) Bourdieu, Language and Linguistics. (London: Continuum).
Lingard, R., Rawolle, S. and Taylor, S. (2005) Globalising policy sociology in education: working with Bourdieu. Journal of Education Policy 20(6): 759–77.
Maton, K. (2000) ‘Language of Legitimation: The Structuring Significance for Intellectual Fields of Strategic Knowledge Claims’. British Journal of Sociology of Education 21(2): 147–67.
Maton, K. (2005) ‘A Question of Autonomy: Bourdieu’s Field Approach and Higher Education Policy’. Journal of Educational Policy 20(6): 687–704.
Naidoo, B. (2004) ‘Fields and Institutional Strategy: Bourdieu on the Relationship Between Higher Education, Inequality and Society’. British Journal of Sociology of Education 25(4): 457–72.
Thomson, P. (2005) ‘Bringing Bourdieu to Policy Sociology: Codification, Misrecognition and Exchange Value in the UK Context’. Journal of Educational Policy 20(6): 741–58.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2014 Michael Grenfell
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Grenfell, M. (2014). Ireland and the Field of Higher Education: A Bourdieusian Perspective. In: Loxley, A., Seery, A., Walsh, J. (eds) Higher Education in Ireland. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137289889_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137289889_6
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-45033-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-28988-9
eBook Packages: Palgrave Education CollectionEducation (R0)