Journal of Shanghai University (Social Science Edition)

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The Intermediation Field in the Community and the
Construction Principle of Trust Mechanism

  

  • Received:2008-12-15 Online:2010-11-15 Published:2010-11-15

Abstract:

 The theoretical frame provided by Bourdieu' s field theory is the relation between human and structure. This theory tries best to seek, between the activity of human and structure, for an interchangeable agent, and, by way of field, habitus and various capitals, explore the mystery of social practice. For Bourdieu, field is a social space characteristic of relative independence, which finds expression in possessing its own operational logic and rule. This essay takes Bourdieu' s field theory as the theoretical tool to analyze the intermediation field in the contemporary city community because the theory and the problems here have a "joint". The socalled intermediation field in the community means the concrete space of the community intercessor' s activity, which consists of such three elements as intercessor, organization and activity. In this study, intermediation field is not only the concrete geographical district but also the concept functioning analysis and research. The author, in using the field theory to interpret the related questions, carries on a "reformation of community intermediation". On the one hand, the community space for intercessor' s activity is considered as a field, that is, intermediation field; and on the other hand, the intercessor' s quality is regarded as a habitus, that is, intermediation habitus. And, for the intermediation system in the community, the core mechanism is trust mechanism. In the process of the operation of intermediation system in the community, intermediation field and trust mechanism are also interactive. Trust mechanism plays a very important part in finishing the interaction between the subjects of intermediation, and also in simplifying the process of solving community disputes. It is influenced by the macrostructure in the society and the mesostructure in the community, which is brought about through the community intercessor' s activity of the specific field in the process of intermediation. Not only is the construction of trust mechanism influenced by the intermediation habitus of the community intercessor, but also the interaction between the community intercessor as the trust subject and the interceded person has an important influence on the formation of trust. While the trust of the interceded person in the intercessor results in the cooperation in the intermediation process, the cooperation goes further to strengthens the trust. The author holds that, by an analysis of the above relations and interactive processes, the construction principle of trust mechanism in the community intermediation can be achieved,in detail, including the selection of the community intercessor, the construction of system itself, the cohesive mechanism of court litigation, and the establishment of trust environment in the community. In this way, the construction of trust mechanism in the community intermediation can be promoted, and the intermediation system in the community can be further developed.

Key words: intermediation field; community intermediation; trust mechanism; construction principle

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