Habitus, Capital, Agency, and Distinction in Entrepreneurial Field
Dynamics: The Case Lafayette
Abstract
This paper aims to investigate process of requalification of economic
functions in the ongoing transition to the digital economy experienced
by the American city of Lafayette, in the state of Louisiana. As a
starting point an extensive analysis of the history of the city and its
surroundings was carried out, accompanied by semi-structured and
in-depth interviews with respondents involved in the current process of
reconversion investigated. In this transition it was relevant the
Lafayette’s historical, demographic, cultural, spatial, and
socioeconomic dynamics. According to Bourdieu’s theoretical framework,
it was sought to identify the main cognitive categories, both in
relation to the socio-institutional dynamics and individual variations,
emerging from the interviews. As result, the analysis of the habitus and
the main economic, cultural, social, and symbolic capitals mobilized by
community members it was possible to identify themes and categories used
to describe the local business ecosystem and its components. It was also
possible to reveal alliances and disputes that forge and characterize
Lafayette’s business environment, taking into account relationships
among its main historical agents: White Americans vs. Indians, White
Americans vs. Cajuns, White Americans vs. Blackcreoles.