Symbolic Capital of a Place as a Constellation of Social Meanings (The Сase of the Кaliningrad Region)

The article reveals the possibilities of applying P. Bourdieu’s symbolic capital concept to the analysis of places and territory. The initial foundations of the concept are analyzed in the context of his double structuring theory of social reality. Objective characteristics and resources of the territory are classified as first-order structuring, and associated assessments and perceptions are classified as second-order structuring. Based on the proposition that the approaches of social agents vary depending on their inherent habitus, it is concluded that it is more productive to view symbolic capital not as a sum, but as a constellation of social meanings. The ability to control these meanings becomes one of the key factors in the struggle for power, with its outspoken spatial aspect. In the context of understanding symbolic capital as distinction, the influence of symbolization practices on territorial identity is growing. It is argued that the proposed approach allows to take a deeper look at such current problems of place branding as the spread of “empty” brands, lack of attention to the needs of the local population, and the growth of social inequality. Using the example of the Kaliningrad region, it is shown that Bourdieu’s views on the essence of symbolic capital and the nature of symbolic power open up new opportunities for critical analysis of social problems associated with symbolization practices, and also allow explicating the hidden interests of political and economic actors in the field of territorial administration.