From Class Society to Corporation: Bourdieu's Theory in the Age of Digitalization, Globalization and Precarization

Context and Academic FrameworkThis research study is an original scholarly work conducted within an independent academic framework and prepared in accordance with established research and publication standards. The study is presented for academic dissemination and contributes to ongoing scholarly dialogue within its relevant disciplinary field.

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Abstract

This study examines the continued relevance of Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of social inequality in the context of 21st-century transformations such as digitalization, globalization, and precarization. It begins with a reconstruction of Bourdieu’s central concepts—capital, habitus, and fields—and evaluates their applicability to contemporary forms of inequality. Particular attention is given to digital divides, transnational capital flows, and the instability of precarious labor markets. The findings suggest that while Bourdieu’s model remains a powerful tool for explaining the reproduction of inequality, it reaches its limits in addressing emerging digital forms of capital, fluid habitual structures, and hybrid global economies. Comparative perspectives with theories such as Beck’s Risk Society, Castells’ Network Society, and Fraser’s analyses of digital capitalism reveal both the enduring strengths and the shortcomings of Bourdieu’s framework. The study concludes that Bourdieu’s approach must be expanded with new concepts—such as digital capital and transnational fields—to fully capture present realities.