This text first discusses the notion of social field as developed by French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu (1930-2002). It then approaches the specificities of the university field to outline - through the classical work La noblesse d´État. Grandes Écoles et esprit de corps (1989) - analytical possibilities suitable to the Brazilian case. Although the practical epistemic apparatus elaborated by Bourdieu was intended to study the domination mechanisms in the French society, the present paper suggests how it can be used to study the Brazilian University Field by establishing homology relations between both countries.
Pierre Bourdieu; Social fields; Brazilian university field; Sociology of education; Domination mechanisms