Power in Bourdieu and Foucault: considerations about symbolic power and disciplinary power

Abstract

This article aims to present some of conceptions about power, which are present in the thoughts of two contemporary classics from Social Science: Pierre Bourdieu and Michel Foucault. Most specifically, we will analyze the foundations of the notions of symbolic power and disciplinary power, developed, respectively, on their work. Despite the theoretical and methodological differences in both authors, we attend to approach the distinct notions of power in their scientific projects and to confront them to the currently dominant tendency, whose fundamental assumption are supported by the Weberian theory. The idea of imposition of will, as discussed in Weber’s classic formulation of power, brings in itself, indelibly, the awareness, calculation and intentionality by the social actors. Both Foucault and Bordieu, the individuals - subjects and social agents – are conditioned and constrained by external relation and forces, which are often not consciously perceived.