Illusions and Aporias of Democracy: Politics as Seen by Pierre Bourdieu

Addressing Bourdieu’s reflections on politics, this article focuses particularly on his critique of democracy’s most fundamental assumptions, such as citizenship, voting, and representation. Refuting a critical remark, it points out that Bourdieu was well aware of the difficulties that prevent the most disadvantaged from participating in politics, and his intentions opposed those holding an elitist viewpoint. The article also briefly traces the ways that Bourdieu sought to engage politically. It argues that the Bourdieusian perspective can be useful both for understanding the reasons behind the current disinterest in politics and for trying to counter this trend.