Towards a transition of social practices: from Bourdieu to Covid-19

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic imposed a radical change in daily practices. Some of these new practices attracted attention for reducing the environmental impact of human activity, and many theorists saw this as an opportunity to build “new normalities” that are more just and sustainable. Contemporary societies have the capacity to make radical changes in practices, when the efforts and resources are orchestrated in that direction. However, three years after the start of the pandemic we see a gradual return to normality. This article indicates how social practice theories can help us understand the stability of social practices on unsustainable trajectories and their possibilities for transformation towards sustainability.