In this review essay, I examine Franz SCHULTHEIS' book "Forschen mit Bourdieu. Werkstattbesuche 1958-2002.“ In particular, the extent to which SCHULTHEIS adequately contextualizes or even sociologically objectifies Pierre BOURDIEU's collective research practice is discussed, an aim explicitly stated by SCHULTHEIS. While he provides a rich and vivid account of collective research, it is argued that the analysis largely remains anchored in an internal perspective of the research collective. Key concepts and methods drawn from BOURDIEU's own theoretical framework are repeatedly invoked, yet they are rarely applied, for example, to the analysis of power relations. Structured around three thematic focal points—the portrayal of leadership and collaboration, claims to methodological innovation, and the strongly functional description of BOURDIEU's publication outlets—the descriptive strengths of the book are highlighted while identifying analytical gaps. When measured against its own stated objectives, SCHULTHEIS privileges description over reflexive distance and thus falls short of an objectification of the conditions, dynamics, and effects of collective research.
Léonie Bisang (Wed,) studied this question.