Contribution of Pierre Bourdieu’s Theory to the Analysis of the Process of Gentrification

Sa？etak The paper examines the possible application of Bourdieu’s complex theory to the analysis of the gentrification process. The gentrification process changes the appearance and purpose of urban structures in the city core, which is followed by the changes of social characteristics of the people these structures are intended for. There are two types of gentrification: pioneer gentrification and profitable gentrification. The occurrence, expansion and modification of the gentrification process can be explained as the result of the interaction of social fields. Gentrification could be seen as a process of distinction and then Bourdieu’s class analysis determines the gentrifiers’ class affiliation and recognizes their inner differentiation as well. In the paper special attention is paid to the role different types of capital (cultural, economic, social and symbolic) play in the process of gentrification