Division within Social Space Saša Božić University of Zadar

Divided societies -> division within social spaces Societies as containers for social action and interaction? Societies as multidimensional social spaces? Divided societies – Divided (social) spaces?

Societies as containers for social action and interaction?

Societies as multidimensional social spaces?

Divided societies – Divided (social) spaces?

Absolute space Container for events that are planned , that are happening – immobile raster which enables st a ndardized measuring Space of cadastre and engineering In social sense – space of private ownership and territorial boundaries

Container for events that are planned , that are happening – immobile raster which enables st a ndardized measuring

Space of cadastre and engineering

In social sense – space of private ownership and territorial boundaries

Relative space Relative space – depending on the position of the observer Relative space is the product of obser vation process. Bourdieu (1984) – social space is relative considering the positioning of actors within the social space

Relative space – depending on the position of the observer

Relative space is the product of obser vation process.

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

Bourdieu – social space Sociology as a social topology – social world as a multidimensional space based on differentiating principles, i.e. characteristics and attributes that ‘work’ within this social space These characteristics give the power to their ‘owners’. Actors and groups are defined through their relative position within the social space.

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

These characteristics give the power to their ‘owners’.

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

An actor has a position in a specific region of the space – theoretically possible to occupy two or more positions at the same time Attributes and characteristics form a magnetic field which is compulsory – it is not based on individual intentions or interaction

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

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

Attributes and characteristics as construction principles of social space make different sorts of capital Each sort of the capital ‘works’ in a special field – a player has a higher chance to win within a special field if s/he has a significant amount of capital (e.g. economic, cultural etc.) Social position can be determined by the position of the actor within specific fields.

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

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

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

Actors are differentiated and positioned firstly by the general capital which they own – first dimension of social space Social position d epend s on the composition of the capital – second dimension of social space Information about the position of the actor is the information about his/her relational characteristics.

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

Social position d epend s on the composition of the capital – second dimension of social space

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

Similar positions give us the ensemble of actors with similar dispositions and similar interests, similar practice s and similar political-ideological attitudes This is a theoretical tool for the explanation of practice and behaviour of actors – it is NOT a real class of actors

Similar positions give us the ensemble of actors with similar dispositions and similar interests, similar practice s and similar political-ideological attitudes

This is a theoretical tool for the explanation of practice and behaviour of actors – 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 if the actors have close positions – no causal effects however Even joint actions of actors with distant positions possible (if not probable) Consequences for the conceptualization of divisions within social space?

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

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

Consequences for the conceptualization of divisions within social space?

Dividing social space First indication of a significant social division: huge distance between the ensembles of actors, missing intermediary positions ( social cleavages ) Second indication of a significant social division: static two dimensional picture of social space – slim chances for the acquisition of economic or cultural capital (‘developing countries’) Third indication of a significant social division: regardless of the accumulation of different sorts of capital – perceived distance towards specific groups – sociological and ethnomethodological concepts don’t overlap (racist ideologies)

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

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

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

Regardless of the composition of capital – some groups of actors with similar position cannot utilize their capital – usually an ‘intervening’ sort of symbolic capital (e.g. ethnicity) Research on social divisions – construction of new social space based on new relevant attributes (new forms of capital?) - > new types of distances – influence on divisions based on economic and cultural capital Comparison with real mobilized groups

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

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

Comparison with real mobilized groups

Transnational social space Social space is not bound to territory; a place is not tied to bounded geographical territory – it is an articulated moment within networks of social relations So far social and physical space were mostly embedded in each other; overlapping of social and physical space was exclusive and accidental The concept of social space as a container was sufficient.

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

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

The concept of social space as a container was sufficient.

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

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

TSS – made out of combination of social ties and their contents, positions within networks and organizations which can be found in at least two internationally distant destinations TSS is exclusively social space which is ‘liberated’ of physical space

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

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

Divisions and TSS TSS as a consequence of the existing divisions – some attributes saturated to a form of capital can be used for exclusive social ties – winning chances for all parties are increasing TSS not only among migrants – all forms of cultural capital can be and are used for the formation of exclusive transnational social spaces

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

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

Towards a global social space? Realization of the global social space through transnational social spaces?

Towards a global social space?

Realization of the global social space through transnational social spaces?