For Bourdieu, against Alexander: Reality and reduction

Jeffrey Alexander argues that despite Bourdieu's considerable achievements ultimately his work is reductionist and determinist. He further argues that though Bourdieu is a middle range theorist he is implicitly realist in his meta-theoretical assumptions. This article accepts these conclusions but a rgues that Bourdieu's meta-theoretical realism is a virtue rather than a vi ce and that the manner in which he is a reductionist and determinist necess itate a re-thinking of what is meant by these notions. Alexander uses Bourd ieu's concept of habitus to demonstrate a fundamental contradiction in Bour dieu's theorising. According to him habitus presents us with the oxymoron o f unconscious strategisation. This article uses a discussion of habitus in order to demonstrate that in its relationship with the concept of field it instead produces a practical resolution of long standing theoretical proble ms concerning structural determination and human agency. It is also argued that these problems are resolved at the meta-theoretical level in the form of critical realist ontology and that it is Alexander's misunderstandings o n this level which cause him to fail to appreciate the significance of Bour dieu's achievements.