Field, System, and Effect: Three Inspirations for Thinking About the Future of Our Profession

Abstract: This article draws on inspirations from Pierre Bourdieu, Niklas Luhmann, and Hans-Georg Gadamer to think about the future of our profession in light of the notions of social spaces, social systems, and a history of effect. I connect the thinking about this future to how it may be influenced by our reasons for being here, how we operate while we are here, and the consequences of what we do here. Following this line of thought, I investigate our motivational dispositions through the Bourdieusian illusio and its entailments, our communications as inspired by the communication of Luhmanian social systems, and the future effects of what we do by employing Gadamer's thoughts on an effect history. Altogether this invites enlightening various sides of our gatekeeping, leadership, publication, and internationalization as parts of what shapes that future. Included is the notion of a dynamic relationship between all these factors, wherein some particular challenges call for our courage.