Rethinking Recent Conceptualizations of Power in Political Sociology

Abstract

Conceptualizing power is a central theme and core concern of political sociology. How one approaches the social basis of political life is shaped by guiding conceptions of power. Two recent books, one in German and the other in English, assess and critically evaluate recent conceptualizations of power that are of interest to political research, particularly in the European context. Demokratizierung der EU durch nationale Europadiskurse by Claudia Wiesner and Symbolic Power, Politics, and Intellectuals: The Political Sociology of Pierre Bourdieu by David Swartz offer different perspectives on these recent trends. This panel will draw inspiration from these two books by having the authors present their works followed by responses by discussants.

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