Introduction: For a relational political sociology

The social scientific study of political phenomena is fragmented into several specialisms – the study of political attitudes and electoral behaviour, studies of the state and political actors, and studies of international relations – across multiple disciplines with limited crossover. The only connecting threads are common appeals to either rational choice theory or Marxism. The purpose of this volume is to advocate, demonstrate and develop an alternative programme of political sociology that not only overcomes the limits and problems of dominant frameworks but promises to integrate specialisms and provide a coherent, joined-up approach to politics. This programme derives from the relational sociology of Pierre Bourdieu. Here I offer an overview of Bourdieu’s many-faceted analysis of politics, contrasts with other perspectives, applications of his ideas by others inspired by him and the contributions to the present volume.