Bozic

Division within Social Division within Social SpaceSpace

Saša Božić

University of Zadar

Divided societies -> division within Divided societies -> division within social spacessocial spaces

Societies as containers for Societies as containers for social action and interaction?social action and interaction?

Societies as multidimensional Societies as multidimensional social spaces?social spaces?

Divided societies – Divided Divided societies – Divided (social) spaces?(social) spaces?

Absolute spaceAbsolute space

Container Container forfor events events that that are plannedare planned, that, that are happening – immobile raster which are happening – immobile raster which enables stenables staandardized measuringndardized measuring

Space of cadastre and engineeringSpace of cadastre and engineering In social sense – space of private In social sense – space of private

ownership and territorial boundariesownership and territorial boundaries

Relative spaceRelative space

Relative space – depending on the Relative space – depending on the position of the observerposition of the observer

Relative space is the product of Relative space is the product of obserobservationvation process. process.

Bourdieu (1984) – social space is relative Bourdieu (1984) – social space is relative considering the positioning of actors considering the positioning of actors withinwithin the social spacethe social space

Bourdieu – social spaceBourdieu – social space

Sociology as a social topology – social world as Sociology as a social topology – social world as a multidimensional space based on a multidimensional space based on differentiating principles, i.e. characteristics and differentiating principles, i.e. characteristics and attributes that ‘work’ within this social spaceattributes that ‘work’ within this social space

These characteristics give the power to their These characteristics give the power to their ‘owners’.‘owners’.

Actors and groups are defined through their Actors and groups are defined through their relative position within the social space.relative position within the social space.

An actor has a position in a specific region An actor has a position in a specific region of the space – theoretically possible to of the space – theoretically possible to occupy two or more positions at the same occupy two or more positions at the same timetime

Attributes and characteristics form a Attributes and characteristics form a magnetic field which is compulsory – it is magnetic field which is compulsory – it is not based on individual intentions or not based on individual intentions or interactioninteraction

Attributes and characteristics as Attributes and characteristics as construction principles of social space construction principles of social space make different sorts of capitalmake different sorts of capital

Each sort of the capital ‘works’ in a special Each sort of the capital ‘works’ in a special field – a player has a higher chance to win field – a player has a higher chance to win within a special field if s/he has a within a special field if s/he has a significant amount of capital (e.g. significant amount of capital (e.g. economic, cultural etc.)economic, cultural etc.)

Social position can be determined by the Social position can be determined by the position of the actor within specific fields.position of the actor within specific fields.

Actors are differentiated and positioned Actors are differentiated and positioned firstly by the general capital which they firstly by the general capital which they own – first dimension of social spaceown – first dimension of social space

Social position dSocial position dependependss on the on the composition of the capital – second composition of the capital – second dimension of social spacedimension of social space

Information about the position of the actor Information about the position of the actor is the information about his/her relational is the information about his/her relational characteristics.characteristics.

Similar positions give us the ensemble of Similar positions give us the ensemble of actors with similar dispositions and similar actors with similar dispositions and similar interests, similar practiceinterests, similar practicess and similar and similar political-ideological political-ideological attitudesattitudes

This is a theoretical tool for the This is a theoretical tool for the explanation of practice and behaviour of explanation of practice and behaviour of actors – it is NOT a real class of actorsactors – it is NOT a real class of actors

TOTAL CAPITAL +

All sorts of capital together

TOTAL CAPITAL -

Cultural capital +

Economic capital -

Cultural capital -

Economic capital +

Voting

right

Voting left

The chances for a joint action are greater The chances for a joint action are greater if the actors have close positions – no if the actors have close positions – no causal effects howevercausal effects however

Even joint actions of actors with distant Even joint actions of actors with distant positions possible (if not probable)positions possible (if not probable)

Consequences for the conceptualization of Consequences for the conceptualization of divisions within social space?divisions within social space?

Dividing social spaceDividing social space

First indication of First indication of a a significant social division: huge significant social division: huge distance between the ensembles of actors, missing distance between the ensembles of actors, missing intermediary positionsintermediary positions ( (social cleavagessocial cleavages))

Second indication of Second indication of a a significant social division: static significant social division: static twotwo dimensional picture of social space – slim chances dimensional picture of social space – slim chances for the acquisition of economic or cultural capitalfor the acquisition of economic or cultural capital (‘developing countries’)(‘developing countries’)

Third indication of Third indication of a a significant social division: regardless significant social division: regardless of the accumulation of different sorts of capital – of the accumulation of different sorts of capital – perceived distance towards specific groups – perceived distance towards specific groups – sociological and ethnomethodological concepts don’t sociological and ethnomethodological concepts don’t overlapoverlap (racist ideologies) (racist ideologies)

Regardless of the composition of capital – some Regardless of the composition of capital – some groups of actors with similar position cannot groups of actors with similar position cannot utilize their capital – usually an ‘intervening’ sort utilize their capital – usually an ‘intervening’ sort of symbolic capital (e.g. ethnicity)of symbolic capital (e.g. ethnicity)

Research on social divisions – construction of Research on social divisions – construction of new social space based on new relevant new social space based on new relevant attributes (new forms of capital?) - > new types attributes (new forms of capital?) - > new types of distances – influence on divisions based on of distances – influence on divisions based on economic and cultural capitaleconomic and cultural capital

Comparison with real mobilized groupsComparison with real mobilized groups

Transnational social spaceTransnational social space

Social space is not bound to territory; a place is Social space is not bound to territory; a place is not tied to bounded geographical territory – it is not tied to bounded geographical territory – it is an articulated moment within networks of social an articulated moment within networks of social relationsrelations

So far social and physical space were mostly So far social and physical space were mostly embedded in each other; overlapping of social embedded in each other; overlapping of social and physical space was exclusive and and physical space was exclusive and accidentalaccidental

The concept of social space as a container was The concept of social space as a container was sufficient.sufficient.

Transnational social space: pluri-local Transnational social space: pluri-local referential frames which structure referential frames which structure everyday life practices, social poseveryday life practices, social posiitions, tions, biographical projects and human identities biographical projects and human identities – they exist simultaneously over and – they exist simultaneously over and beyond the context of national societies beyond the context of national societies (Faist, 2000)(Faist, 2000)

TSS – made out of combination of social TSS – made out of combination of social ties and their contents, positions within ties and their contents, positions within networks and organizations which can be networks and organizations which can be found in at least two internationally distant found in at least two internationally distant destinationsdestinations

TSS is exclusively social space which is TSS is exclusively social space which is ‘liberated’ of physical space‘liberated’ of physical space

Divisions and TSSDivisions and TSS

TSS as a consequence of the existing TSS as a consequence of the existing divisions – some attributes saturated to a divisions – some attributes saturated to a form of capital can be used for exclusive form of capital can be used for exclusive social ties – winning chances for all parties social ties – winning chances for all parties are increasingare increasing

TSS not only among migrants – all forms TSS not only among migrants – all forms of cultural capital can be and are used for of cultural capital can be and are used for the formation of exclusive transnational the formation of exclusive transnational social spacessocial spaces

Towards a global social space?Towards a global social space? Realization of the global social space Realization of the global social space

through transnational social spaces?through transnational social spaces?