Department of Education ResearchProf. Dr. Solvejg Jobst

Hierarchy of cultures and educational research

Conference Conference Educational Change in the Global ContextEducational Change in the Global Context

Social Justice and Choice in EducationSocial Justice and Choice in EducationPraha

30.08. - 03.08. 2010

Department of Sociology Prof. Dr. Jan Skrobanek

University of Zürich

Content1. Theoretical assumptions:

• The Production of Scientific Knowledge

2. Empirical Studie: • Immigration and Inequality – Field-Specific

Constructions

3. Conclusion: • Contextualisation of the Types of Discourse and

Concluding Observations 2

Hierarchy of cultures and educational research

1. Theoretical assumptions: The Production of Scientific

Knowledge

3

Karl Mannheim (1928): Jedes Denken ist „eingebettet und getragen von Macht und Geltungstrieb bestimmter Gruppen, die ihre Weltanschauung zur öffentlichen Weltauslegung machen wollen“. Pierre Bourdieu/Loïc Waquant (Reflexive Anthropology):

structural relation between researcher and object of research internal struggles in the scientific field

Structural Imbalance between Researcher and Object of Research

4

economic capital +

cultural symbolic capital -

economic capital -

cultural symbolic capital +immigrants

who suffer inequality

researcher(institutionally secured)

symbolic capital = cultural, economic or social capital with general recognition (e.g. Euro, university qualification, the elaborate use of the “Standard” language)

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Structural Imbalance between Researcher and Object of Research

.... is embedded in a objective imbalanced relation between the researcher and the research object

.... is taking part in constructing a hierarchy of cultures – ascribing the characteristics “symbolic” or “non-symbolic” capital .

assumptions: The production of scientific knowledge ...

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.... not a homogeneous process but conflicts of power exist internal to the field: Who is authorised to speak the truth about the social world?assumption: .... the power relations and power conflicts within the field lead to different approaches of ascribing the characteristics “symbolic” and “non-symbolic”.

Internal struggles in the scientific field

Main Questions of the Empirical Study based on Bourdieu/Wacquant :

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How does the research on immigration and inequality deal with the relation

between “symbolic” and “non-symbolic” cultural capital ?

(reproduction of the hierarchy of cultures)

types of discourse dimensions of the

construction

2. Empirical Studie: Immigration and Inequality – Field-Specific

ConstructionsData: 4 A+/A ranked journals in Germany (Vienna University of Economics and Business) Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie (KZfSS)/ Zeitschrift für Soziologie (ZfS)/Zeitschrift für Erziehungswissenschaft (ZfE)/Zeitschrift für Pädagogik (ZfP)

Time span: 2000 – 2007 Search frame: headlines: “migration or immigrants”; “ethicisation or ethnic; migration and inequality”;”immigrants and inequality”; “ethicisation and inequality; ethnic and inequality” Ntotal = 19; Sociology. = 11, Educational Science = 8 Level of analysis of the texts: a) Issue addressed, b) Theoretical assumptions, c) Method/Results d) Conclusion

Method

Types of discourse

9

Type of discourseDimensions

system-centric relativistic patchwork

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DimensionsType of discourse

system-centric relativistic patchwork

Validity of symbolic capital yes(ks01a-518).doc

Perspective of exchange no(ks03a-716).doc

Recognition of unequal distribution of symbolic capital

no (ks02a-662).doc

Claim to control over the symbolic value of capital

yes

Preservation of the stability of the modes of ascribing status

yes

Types of discourse

11

DimensionsType of discourse

system-centric relativistic patchwork

Validity of symbolic capital yes no (ks05a-709).doc

Perspective of exchange no yes (zs02a-25).doc

Recognition of unequal distribution of symbolic capital

no yes (ze01b-513).doc

Claim to control over the symbolic value of capital

yes no

Preservation of the stability of the modes of ascribing status

yes no

Types of discourse

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DimensionsType of discourse

system-centric relativistic patchwork

Validity of symbolic capital yes no yes

Perspective of exchange no yes no

Recognition of unequal distribution of symbolic capital

no yes yes (zp02-

386ff).doc

Claim to control over the symbolic value of capital

yes no no

Preservation of the stability of the modes of ascribing status

yes no yes

Types of discourse

Types of relation

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Type of discourseDimensions

system-centric relativistic patchwork

Tendency towards Zero-sum conflict (One side’s gain is the other side’s loss, and conversely)

Win-win situation(Cap one side’s gain is also a gain for the other side)

Knowledge of recognition asymmetry

Demarcation between ‘holders of capital’

‘Holders of capital’ can claim reciprocal rights of control.

Acceptance and accommodation with the recognized asymmetry

Keep Order

Change Order

Accept Order

Distribution of types of discourse

9

7

3Typ A (system-centric)

Typ B (relativistic)

Typ C (patchwork)

Typ A (system-centric)

Typ B (relativistic)

Typ C (patchwork)

Distribution of types of discourse

tendency to reproduce the relations of domination and subordination between different forms of cultural capital.

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3. Conclusion: Hierarchies of cultures and educational

research

* reproduction of the hierarchy of cultures* Problematic! legitimation of the existing power relations integration as assimilation correspondence to one–sided policy strategies counter-tendency: value of capital is open to

more than one interpretation

Solvejg Jobst

Professur für Internationale und Interkulturelle BildungsforschungOtto-von-Guericke-Universität MagdeburgZschokkestraße 32D-39104 MagdeburgTelefon: +49-(0)391-67-16946Telefax: +49-(0)391-67-16840Solvejg.jobst@ovgu.dewww.iibf.ovgu.de

Thank you for your attention and feel free to contact us!

Jan Skrobanek

Assistenzprofessur für JugendforschungUniversität ZürichSoziologisches InstitutAndreasstrasse 15CH-8050 ZürichTelefon: +41-44-635-23-74Telefax: +41-44-635-23-99Skrobanek@soziologie.uzh.chwww.suz.uzh.ch