On Luhmann's Political System. Lessons For and From Bourdieu's Theory of Fields

This paper will serve a triple goal. In the first place, it aims to present Niklas Luhmann’s political sociology. For that purpose an introductory overview of his main concepts and intuitions will be presented. Drawing on the hypothesis of modern society being a knowledge society, the paper will secondly formulate some points of critique on Luhmanns design of the political system and suggest some refinements in the light of these critiques. Finally, a balance will be made in the light of Bourdieu’s field theory, weighing the merits of both approaches.