20th century (Late Modern) · Sociology, Cultural Theory
Pierre Bourdieu (1930-2002) was a French sociologist, anthropologist, and philosopher, widely regarded as one of the most influential social theorists of the late 20th century. He developed a comprehensive theory of society centered on the concepts of habitus, field, and capital, which he applied to analyze cultural reproduction, education, taste, and power. His work, deeply critical of structuralism and subjectivism alike, sought to uncover the hidden mechanisms of social domination and symbolic violence.