Living on the Margins: Bourdieu on Social Dynamics

This contribution highlights the methodological and theoretical aspects at the basis of Bourdieu’s work The Weight of the World, regarded as an exceptionally significant text, rich in intellectual, political, and methodological insights and provocations. Recently rediscovered, particularly in Italy, it has demonstrated its enduring relevance more than 30 years after its initial publication. The paper is organized in two parts. In the first part, the methodological challenges raised by the book are presented, and in the second part, the social theory is analyzed in order to show how relevant this book is in our current age. In conclusion, a short comparison between Bourdieu’s work and his relationship with Marx is made.