Symbolic Violence and the Limits of Domination

Theories of power highlighting the complicity of subordinates in relations of domination typically assume their prior engagement in agonistic fields structured by that domination. Building on recent arguments for a cultural theory of interests (Spillman and Strand 2013) this paper examines the limits of the complicity assumption, and the implications of those limits for the concept of symbolic violence. I argue that cultural processes inherent in field formation as “autocatalysis” (Padgett and Powell 2012), as well as in dynamics of center/periphery relations within fields (Shils 1975), and in Hirschman’s (1990) theorization of actors’ exit options, all set limiting conditions on subordinates’ meaningful participation in agonistic fields, and thus help specify the conditions for symbolic violence.