Rethinking Relationality in Economic Sociology: Relational Work in Circuits of Commerce

• In Event: 382 - Theory Section Paper Session. Directions in Relational Sociology: Theory, Method and Practice

Abstract

This paper scrutinizes relational perspectives in economic sociology. It reviews the development of the network perspective in economic sociology since the late 1970s, and contrasts it to recent attention to relational work and circuits of commerce. Then, the paper proposes how thinking about relationality in economy as relational work in circuits of commerce advances theorizing in economic sociology, by allowing for a synthetic analysis of economic processes that integrates a focus on structure, power, culture and emotions; by undergirding a micro-theory of economic action as practical action; and by providing a mechanism that helps bridge the micro and macro analyses of the socially constructed economy. The last part stipulates what advances relational work and circuits of commerce concepts bring to relational sociology more broadly.

Author

• Nina Bandelj, University of California, Irvine