Boike Rehbein on Understanding Social Inequality in the Globalized Capitalist World

This chapter introduces Boike Rehbein’s understanding of a theory of social inequality and capitalist society as a historical form of unequal domination. Drawing from and expanding upon Pierre Bourdieu’s theories, Rehbein challenges conventional narratives surrounding social inequality within capitalist frameworks. He emphasizes the significance of social class and sociocultures in shaping individuals’ positions within society, highlighting the enduring nature of social classes across generations. Rehbein’s analysis unveils the complexities of capitalism as a mode of domination in which the accumulation of capital serves to perpetuate unequal privileges. While Rehbein’s untimely passing in 2022 halted his research and his final involvement as an editor of this handbook, his preliminary theses provide invaluable insights into the reproduction of social hierarchies and the dynamics of domination. This chapter underscores the importance of continuing Rehbein’s legacy of not just critical theory but also his critical pedagogy.