Ideology in Social Space: Characteristics of the Structure of the Ideological Field Based on the Social Theory of Pierre Bourdieu

The article considers ideology as a certain kind of social field in a social space, and also presents an analysis of the contribution of Pierre Bourdieu's theory to the study of ideology. Based on the works of Pierre Bourdieu, concepts such as the ideological field and ideological capital are introduced. The ideological field is a system of objective social relations that ensure the production and reproduction of ideologies and their structures. In the article, the author establishes specific patterns of functioning of the ideological field and ideological capital. The main goals of ideological production are to increase and increment profitability, influence and power, as well as "surplus value". According to Pierre Bourdieu's theory, differences in social space and social fields are produced due to a certain distribution and uneven ratio capital. The ideological field, as well as other social fields, is a place of competition and struggle of multidirectional antagonistic social forces. The ideological space consists of "nodal points" and "floating signifiers", which are attached to "nodal points" depending on the "surplus value" allocated by them. The main incentive for the development of ideological capital, as well as economic capital and other forms of capital, is the desire for self-reproduction, self-growth and accumulation. Ideological capital is a set of self-reproducing and self-growing ideas and beliefs that claim to dominate society. So, the application and development of Pierre Bourdieu's social theory in relation to ideology opens up the possibility of analyzing the real social practices of agents and institutions, their strategies and interests.