Michalis Lianos

English

Research Papers in Economics

Bourdieu: Preface
by Michalis Lianos
University of Rouen
Sociological Research Online 12(6)17 
<http://www.socresonline.org.uk/12/6/17.html> 
doi:10.5153/sro.1655
Received: 2007-11-29     Accepted: 22 Oct 2007    Published: 30 Nov 2007
Preface
In October 2001 I met Pierre Bourdieu for the ﬁrst and last time. It was in Brussels, in a small conference
organised to discuss the ﬁndings of a project led by his research centre. After his talk I publicly disagreed
with him on the way he thought domination and neo-liberalism could be effectively critiqued and countered
today. He immediately asked if I had empirical evidence for what I suggested. After the conference we
started a discussion but he had to leave early because he "felt tired". I explained to him what I thought
about the advancing fragility that is now seriously damaging the middle classes since the 1990s and that
ongoing research on a similar project that I led seemed to support that an effective critique needs to be
mounted on a cross-class platform. He got very interested, suggested that we meet in Paris in December
and gave me his phone number. When I telephoned to arrange a meeting his assistant told me that he was
hoping to contact me in the second half of January. On the 23rd Bourdieu died. I was never able to make
my case to him. I remain impressed by the affability he showed and his commitment to sociology despite
his ill health. I hope that this volume contributes to the posthumous discussion that many among us
continue to hold with his work.
Michalis Lianos
Professor of Sociology
University of Rouen
http://www.socresonline.org.uk/12/6/17.html 1 05/03/2012

Bourdieu: Preface

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Bourdieu: Preface

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Research Papers in Economics