Accountability through activism: learning from Bourdieu

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to reflect on how the social-theoretical work of Pierre Bourdieu (1931-2001) could contribute to knowledge production on accountability. Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on Bourdieu’s conceptualisation of social practice in terms of a field/habitus relation, and uses this relation as a framing mechanism to explore the possibilities of accountability in corporate-stakeholder relations. Findings – The authors argue that Bourdieu’s work holds significant implications for academics operating in the political space relating to accountability because it informs a basis for academic intervention. Research limitations/implications – Included in the paper are a critique of the dominant “liberal” position on accountability and a defence of the development of a “post-liberal” alternative. Practical implications – It is argued that this alternative requires moving away from the dominant procedural approach to practice and recognising the value of informal communication and non-institutional action as equally valid routes towards accountability. Originality/value – Reflecting on Bourdieu’s position reminds us of the explicit link between political and methodological change, and highlights the necessity for these to be inextricably linked.