This article provides a brief introduction to the life and work of Luc Boltanski, who is widely regarded as one of the most influential French sociologists of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. The article is divided into two main parts. The first part offers a summary of Boltanski's biographical trajectory and academic career. The second part gives a comprehensive overview of Boltanski's major works and intellectual contributions. The concluding section presents a short assessment of Boltanski's overall impact upon the contemporary social sciences, particularly in terms of the international relevance of his writings. The bibliography contains key primary and secondary sources, reflecting not only the prolific development of Boltanski's oeuvre, but also the strong influence his work has had, and continues to have, on cutting-edge forms of social and political analysis.
Major Works and ContributionsBoltanski has produced a large number of single-authored and co-authored books, edited and co-edited volumes, book chapters, and journal articles. In addition, he has written and published poetry, and more recently, theater plays. For the sake of brevity, the summary provided in this section shall focus on his most influential sociological works.