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5 Field Theory and Global Transformations in the Long Twentieth Century

Abstract

This chapter explores how the Bourdieusian field theory can be deployed to make sense of global dynamics. It mentions international relations (IR) scholars that have enlisted Bourdieu in their analyses, applied his work to international issues, and taken certain concepts, such as habitus and practice, from his larger theoretical conceptual apparatus. It also focuses on three transformative processes or macro-historical turning points: the expansion of colonial empires during the phase of 'high imperialism', the two world wars, and the post-war end of formal colonial empires that heralded the rise to dominance of the modern nation state. The chapter maps the points of differentiation between field theory approaches and other approaches. It recognizes other key elements of Bourdieusian field theory, such as fields that consist of objective relations between actors and the subjective and cultural forms of those relations.

Abstract

This chapter explores how the Bourdieusian field theory can be deployed to make sense of global dynamics. It mentions international relations (IR) scholars that have enlisted Bourdieu in their analyses, applied his work to international issues, and taken certain concepts, such as habitus and practice, from his larger theoretical conceptual apparatus. It also focuses on three transformative processes or macro-historical turning points: the expansion of colonial empires during the phase of 'high imperialism', the two world wars, and the post-war end of formal colonial empires that heralded the rise to dominance of the modern nation state. The chapter maps the points of differentiation between field theory approaches and other approaches. It recognizes other key elements of Bourdieusian field theory, such as fields that consist of objective relations between actors and the subjective and cultural forms of those relations.

Chapters in this book

  1. Front Matter i
  2. Contents v
  3. List of Figures and Tables vii
  4. Notes on Contributors viii
  5. Acknowledgements xii
  6. Introduction: World Society and Its Histories – The Sociology and Global History of Global Social Change 1
  7. Every Epoch, Time Frame or Date that Is Solid Melts into Air. Does It? The Entanglements of Global History and World Society 25
  8. Periodization in Global History: The Productive Power of Comparing 43
  9. Communication, Differentiation and the Evolution of World Society 63
  10. Field Theory and Global Transformations in the Long Twentieth Century 81
  11. Organization(s) of the World 99
  12. Particularly Universal Encounters: Ethnographic Explorations into a Laboratory of World Society 117
  13. From the First Sino-Roman War (That Never Happened) to Modern International-cum-Imperial Relations: Observing International Politics from an Evolution Theory Perspective 139
  14. Nationalism as a Global Institution: A Historical-Sociological View 157
  15. States and Markets: A Global Historical Sociology of Capitalist Governance 177
  16. The Impact of Communications in Global History 195
  17. The ‘Long Twentieth Century’ and the Making of World Trade Law 211
  18. Third-Party Actors, Transparency and Global Military Affairs 227
  19. Technical Internationalism and Global Social Change: A Critical Look at the Historiography of the United Nations 243
  20. References 265
  21. Index 299
What in the World?
This chapter is in the book What in the World?
https://doi.org/10.56687/9781529213348-008

Chapters in this book

  1. Front Matter i
  2. Contents v
  3. List of Figures and Tables vii
  4. Notes on Contributors viii
  5. Acknowledgements xii
  6. Introduction: World Society and Its Histories – The Sociology and Global History of Global Social Change 1
  7. Every Epoch, Time Frame or Date that Is Solid Melts into Air. Does It? The Entanglements of Global History and World Society 25
  8. Periodization in Global History: The Productive Power of Comparing 43
  9. Communication, Differentiation and the Evolution of World Society 63
  10. Field Theory and Global Transformations in the Long Twentieth Century 81
  11. Organization(s) of the World 99
  12. Particularly Universal Encounters: Ethnographic Explorations into a Laboratory of World Society 117
  13. From the First Sino-Roman War (That Never Happened) to Modern International-cum-Imperial Relations: Observing International Politics from an Evolution Theory Perspective 139
  14. Nationalism as a Global Institution: A Historical-Sociological View 157
  15. States and Markets: A Global Historical Sociology of Capitalist Governance 177
  16. The Impact of Communications in Global History 195
  17. The ‘Long Twentieth Century’ and the Making of World Trade Law 211
  18. Third-Party Actors, Transparency and Global Military Affairs 227
  19. Technical Internationalism and Global Social Change: A Critical Look at the Historiography of the United Nations 243
  20. References 265
  21. Index 299
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