Bourdieu thought sociology was a martial art, where its used only for defence against your enemy. I wondered if Chicago economists were the mafia. Violence everywhere! So how do we deal with the relationship between economics and sociology? The people over at Org Theory are often grappling with this, and I have a new analogy up my sleeve.
One reason I find economic sociology exciting is the sense of operating behind enemy lines, of being out-numbered by people more powerful than you, but potentially defying them. This assumes, following Harrison White and Michel Callon, that sociology can lay claim to the very heartlands of economic discipline, that it is not only concerned with networks, norms and institutions, but has something to say about markets, prices and competition. To not only invade enemy territory, but to set up shop in its head quarters, has a marvellous chutzpah about it.
Counter-vailing raids have been taking place for decades, certainly since Gary Becker began working in the 1950s. These invaders do not just pop up behind enemy lines before being quashed, but seek to colonise, successfully as it happens (I notice Ben Fine has a new book on the topic). I can't see anything noble about 'freakonomics' in a society that already puts a price on everything. It's like Tony Greig promising to make the West Indies 'grovel' in 1976... which brings me to my analogy. Below, I give you my vision of the economic sociologist in action.
I don't know what the academic equivalent of calmly chewing gum and twiddling your bat after hitting a fast bowler for six is, but I'm pretty sure it would be the economic sociologist's crowning achievement.
(Incidentally, I think the shot off Ian Botham at 1.58 has the most chutzpah of all).
There's a story, probably apocryphal, that he was once beaten outside the off-stump playing for Somerset and informed about the size, weight, and colour of a cricket ball by the bowler in question. The next ball Sir Viv put him out of the ground, and said 'You know what it looks like. Now go and fetch it'.
Posted by: Rob | June 28, 2009 at 02:07 PM