Reproducing belonging in and through genealogical narratives: Hierarchies, exclusion, and power

Traditionally associated with anthropologists, genealogy is increasingly recognised as a concern for sociology with existing research highlighting the importance of genealogical imaginations for individuals’ identity formation and belonging. In this article, I argue that sociologists can play a much greater role in attempts to understand and unpack the wider role and significance of genealogical thinking and practice, particularly in terms of its productive potential and impact on social inclusion and belonging. Through the article, I bring existing literature on genealogy into dialogue with sociological work on hierarchies of belonging and draw on a subset of empirical interview data to illustrate the potential further contributions of sociology to this field of research.