51

Newsletter of the Norbert Elias Foundation

PEOPLE CONTENTS Bart van Heerikhuizen, one of the leading members of the original ‘ School’, is now retired from the University of Amsterdam, where People 1 he was for many years noted as an inspirational teacher of . Videos of his lectures are now being posted on YouTube, where you can find them in From the Norbert Elias Foundation 1 his account:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWUtL-z-wBnUthqWqzVo-ig/playlists Letters to the editor 2 Some are in Dutch, but many are in English. Especially important is Bart’s MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) on the development of sociological In the media thought, consisting of no fewer than 63 full-length lectures in English, the last five of which are on Elias and his writings.

Recent books and articles 3 More recordings are still being uploaded. This is a valuable resource for anyone teaching sociology, for which we should all be grateful to Bart.

Bibliographical retrospect 10 Giselinde Kuipers has been appointed to a senior research professorship at the University of Leuven. Besides having hardly any teaching responsibilities, she will have the chance to build up a substantial research team, to write a Recent conferences: 10 book, and develop a new research program on beauty and inequality. Oxford Conference on the Civilising No doubt her colleagues in Amsterdam will be sad to see her go, but this Process in Colombia presents Giselinde with a wonderful career-enhancing opportunity.

Doing Things Differently Workshop André Saramago has been appointed a position of an Auxiliary Professor of International Relations at the Faculty of in the University of Coimbra, Portugal. Forthcoming conferences: 12 XVIII SIPC, Bogotá Barbara Górnicka has been appointed to a Lectureship in the School of IV ISA Forum of Sociology, Sociology in University College Dublin. Porto Alegre FROM THE NORBERT ELIAS FOUNDATION Obituary: 13 Norbert Elias Book Prize Pieter Spierenburg The Board of the Norbert Elias Foundation wishes to revive the Norbert Elias Prize, which has been in abeyance for the last few years. The new prize, of €1,000, will be awarded every two years. Pivotal is an original and well-written argument significantly inspired by Elias’s oeuvre; a strict Eliasian

Issue No.51 July 2019 Figurations 1 paradigm is not required. English- Barbara Górnicka (University College IN THE MEDIA language books (including translations) Dublin) must not be older than two years; for Russell Ó Riagain (University of Following a milkshake being thrown the next round this means eligible ) at the Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage works should be published in 2018 and Katie has succeeded Stephen Mennell during the European Parliament 2019. as chair of the Editorial Board of election campaign, the BBC asked Human Figurations. As ever, the Matt Clement to present a short Unlike for the earlier incarnation of journal can be found at: https://quod.lib. film, ‘Politicians and the Perils of the Prize, although priority will be umich.edu/h/humfig/ Projectiles’, charting the history of such given to less experienced scholars or happenings. The film can be found at: newcomers, it will no longer be a strict https://www.bbc.com/ requirement that only a first book by an LETTER TO THE EDITORS news/av/uk-48356711/ author may be considered for the prize. politicians-and-the-perils-of-projectiles Your note regarding ‘anthroposhpere’ Nominations for the prize should be in Figurations 50 prompts me to sent to Arjan Post, Secretary to the respond: On 10 April 2019, BBC Radio 3 Norbert Elias Foundation, by 30 April broadcast a programme in their Free 2020, either by post to J.J. Viottastraat Searching the bibliography https:// Thinking series, entitled The Way we 13, 1071 JM Amsterdam, The www.sociosite.net/sociologists/ Used to Feel. The blurb in the Radio , or by email to secretary@ goudsblom_bibliografie.php#01g Times, began ‘Can we ever really know norbert-elias.com. finds an article with ‘antroposfeer’ in the feelings of bygone generations?’. its title (in a Dutch literary magazine of The historian Paul Pickering of ANU Videos on NEF Website which Joop Goudsblom was one of the introduced Elias’s theory of civilising founding authors): ‘De antroposfeer’, processes into the conversation. Maybe The new Norbert Elias Foundation Tirade 45: 4 (2001) 327–40; this by now we should regard references website (http://norbert-elias.com) is has been reprinted in Goudsblom’s to Elias as quite inevitable in such a still partly under construction, but some book Stof waar honger uit ontstond: discussion – but I still remember when features that are a clear advance on the Over evolutie en sociale processen both Elias and his ideas were virtually old website are already evident. See in (Amsterdam 2001: Meulenhoff, unknown outside a very narrow circle, particular the growing number of videos 2001), pp. 63–75. For a revised later so I still allow myself to be surprised! (http://norbert-elias.com/videos/), English version, see ‘Anthroposphere’, See: which already includes interviews and in Berkshire Encyclopedia of World https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/ lectures by Joop Goudsblom, Stephen History (Great Barrington, MA: p07613jh Vertigans, Richard Kilminster, Stephen Berkshire Publishing Group, 2005), pp. Mennell, Marc Joly, Ademir Gebara, 94–8. The Dutch text is also available Nico Wilterdink, Oliver Carsten, at: In the Chronicle of Higher Education, Andrew Linklater, Eric Dunning and https://www.dbnl.org/ 27 March 2019, Lorraine Daston and Cas Wouters, as well as videos of Elias tekst/_tir001200101_01/_ Sharon Marcus write about ‘The Books himself and, sadly, the tributes paid at tir001200101_01_0042.php. that Wouldn’t Die’, with the subheading the funeral of Eric Dunning. ‘They’re alive, despite being rebutted, To quote: ‘I will use the word biosphere criticized, and cast out of the in the following discussion to indicate disciplines from which they came!’. It Change of editors, the total configuration of living things will come as no surprise to readers of Human Figurations that interact with each other and with Figurations that Elias’s On the Process non-living matter. The biosphere is part of Civilisation is mentioned among Katie Liston (University of Ulster), of ‘nature’. Within the biosphere we can many other famous books that have has served as editor of the online then distinguish the anthroposphere, suffered the similar fate of being widely journal Human Figurations since it as that part of the biosphere that bears attacked within their ‘home’ discipline began publication in 2012. We are the traces of human influence, of but continuing nonetheless to be widely immensely grateful for her work both in the functioning of human regimes. read and fruitfully influential. establishing the journal in the first place The anthroposphere has expanded and for undertaking the often stressful considerably over time and has taken SJM editorial burden for so many years. on a larger place within nature on earth. In addition, nature has changed almost From the beginning of 2019, Katie has unrecognizable in some respects; but it stepped down as Editor. The Board of has not gone away.’ the Norbert Elias Stichting has approved the following team to succeed her: Willem Kranendonk Amsterdam Ryan Powell (University of Sheffield)

2 Figurations Issue No.51 July 2019 RECENT BOOKS AND Cas Wouters and Michael Dunning for Analysing Social and Psychic ARTICLES (eds), Civilisation and Informalisation: Processes: Nine Tension Balances, One Connecting Long-Term Social and Triad (pp. 161–83) Editor’s Note: As most reader of Psychic Processes (London: Palgrave Figurations will be aware, in recent Macmillan, 2019). xxii +390 pp. Civilisation and Informalisation: The years many journals have adopted the ISBN: 978-3-030-00797-3 (hb); Selection – Six Chapters by Six Authors practice of posting accepted articles 978-3-030-00798-0 (eBook); DOI 7. Informalisation Through the Lens: online before they are allocated specific 10/1007/978-3-030-00798-0. Black & White and the Development of volume, issue and page numbers. Such Photography as Art, Jonathan Fletcher articles do, however, generally have This is the book that was launched (pp. 187–215) a DOI number, which we list even if at the conference in honour of Cas 8. Informalisation and Brutalisation: more traditional details are not yet Wouters held in Amsterdam in Jihadism as a Part-Process of Global known. February, and referred to in our report Integration and Disintegration, Michael in Figurations 50. For the information Dunning (pp. 217–45) Jocelyne Cesari, ‘Civilization as of readers, here is a full list of its 9. Informalisation and Sport: The disciplinization and the consequences contents: Case of Jogging/Running in the USA for religion and world politics’, Review (1960–2000), Raúl Sánchez García (pp. of Faith and International Affairs 17: 1 Part I: Civilisation and 247–66) (2019), pp. 24–33 Informalisation: The Book – Six 10. Informalisation and Integration DOI: 10.1080/15570274.2019.1570753. Chapters by Cas Wouters Conflicts: The Two-Faced Reception of 1. Informalisation: An Introduction Migrants in the Netherlands, Arjan Post Abstract: This article argues in favour (pp. 3–34) (pp. 267–89) of Norbert Elias’s historical and 2. Informalisation and Evolution: Four 11. Formalisation and Informalisation relational sociology to rehabilitate the Phases in the Development of Steering of Meeting Manners, Wilbert van Vree notion of civilization in the study of Codes (pp. 35–51) international affairs. Elias’s approach has two major advantages. First, it avoids the use of de-historicized models of political development that project a Western-centred approach as universal. Second, it brings into focus the central role of the nation-state in the shaping of the contemporary religious dimension of politics at the national and international levels. This relational and historical perspective will be applied to the case of postcolonial nation-states to explain the rise and expansion of political Islam from national to global forms of political expression.

Alex Mack, ‘Fortified Societies: The Mobilisation of Shared Anxieties’, Unpublished PhD thesis, Aberystwyth University, 2019.

Abstract: My thesis argues that shared From left to right, Patrick Finney (2nd supervisor), Jason Hughes (external examiner), Alexander Mack (candidate), Andrew Linklater (primary supervisor), Mustapha Pasha (internal examiner). anxieties embedded in representations of transnational migration fortified societal orientations in Britain and 3. Informalisation and Emancipation (pp. 291–313) Australia. The language of political of Lust and Love: Integration of 12. Informalisation, Sociological leaders in liberal democratic societies Sexualisation and Eroticisation since Theory and Social Diagnosis, Richard frequently interpret the transnational the 1880s (pp. 53–80) Kilminster (pp. 315–46) movement of people in conflicting 4. Informalisation of Rituals in Dying ways. On the one hand, there are and Mourning: Changes in the We–I As is now common, particularly appeals to a more open society with Balance (pp. 81–116) with Springer (of which Palgrave more diverse sets of identifications and 5. Informalisation, Functional Macmillan is part), each chapter can the loosening of societal regulations. Democratisation, and Globalisation (pp. be individually purchased online in On the other hand, there are appeals to 117–60) PDF format. a more closed society, with more – 6. Universally Applicable Criteria

Issue No.51 July 2019 Figurations 3 emotional experience of contemporary Dominic Malcolm’s book, The Gad Yair, ‘Hierarchy versus music consumption by drawing from an Concussion Crisis in Sport, will be symmetry in German and Israeli Eliasian perspective, specifically Elias published later in 2019.] science’, American Journal of and Dunning’s sociology of leisure. Cultural Sociology (Online, March We explore the relationship between Kass Gibson and Dominic Malcolm, 2019), 32. https://doi.org/10.1057/ work, spare time and leisure spaces, ‘Theorizing physical activity health s41290-019-00069-8 rather than examining specific spaces in promotion: towards an Eliasian isolation. We argue that music is used framework for the analysis of health Abstract: Is science culturally to demarcate, transition between, and and medicine’, Social Theory & determined? If so, in what aspects blur space. Music plays an important Health, March 2019. DOI: 10.1057/ and how? Using evidence from three role in facilitating the rhythm of s41285-019-00098-w studies of German and Israeli science, routine, helping individuals to adjust to this paper shows that the contexts of the demands of different spaces (based Abstract: This article seeks to advance scientific discovery in those countries on varying intensities and immediacies our understanding of the convergence are highly distinct. Respondents from of social pressures) and manage mood. of physical activity and public health each study embraced a universalist The key characteristics of leisure that through a novel theorization drawing position by holding the belief that Elias and Dunning identify (motility, upon, applying and developing ‘science is science,’ suggesting that sociability and mimetic tension) are figurational sociological principles of they share similar understandings about explored across the spectrum of time Norbert Elias. More specifically, we the context of scientific justification. and space. focus on four core aspects of Elias’s However, respondents also agreed that theoretical corpus: interdependencies; the deep cultural codes of hierarchy Dominic Malcolm, ‘Sociocultural forethought (as an aspect of civilizing (in Germany) and symmetry (in aspects of concussion’, in J. Caron and processes); the interaction of ‘fact’ Israel) constitute the actual contexts of G. Bloom (eds), Psychological Aspects and in socially determining scientific discovery on utterly different of Sport-Related Concussions (London: knowledge; and finally, the hinge. trajectories. Specifically, they claimed Routledge, 2019), pp. 199--211. DOI: As such, we argue that contemporary that deep cultural codes determine 10.4324/9781351200516-13 interest in physical activity health the organization of labs; that they promotion can be attributed to the set the ground rules for the relations Abstract: This chapter examines the amalgamation of distinctive figurations between senior and junior scientists; various ways in which sociocultural of interdependency ties; an associated that they determine concrete research analyses can enhance our understanding development in the internalization practices; and that they even constitute of issues related to concussion. of human self-control; conceptions intellectual styles. By adding ‘national Identifying the emergence of an of ‘truth’, which derive from a culture’ as an important factor in increasingly multidisciplinary object combination of scientific evidence, science studies, this paper suggests that of study, this chapter focuses on ideological desires and the gratification it is the task of science and technology five areas of brain-injury related brought from the ‘holding’ of such studies to employ broader approaches sociocultural research—athlete beliefs; and the intersection of social of cultural analysis. Such approaches experience; medical practice; medical and biological processes on the would bring to light national knowledge; public health; and cultural human body. This paper advances particularities in socialization towards representations. It identifies how the existing figurationally informed the universal Temple of Science; peculiar social relations which form theoretical analyses of health and they also would facilitate greater sports cultures shape the attitudes and medicine, in highlighting the essential appreciation for the multiple cultural behaviours of athletes and clinicians interconnectivity of Elias’s key ideas. ways of doing science. who negotiate the identification and This approach is, in turn, more faithful management of concussion injuries, to Elias’s advocacy of a radically Gary Sinclair, Julie Tinson and how such social relations influence relational sociological perspective. and Paddy Dolan, ‘Music in the the construction and dissemination The result is both an original time-spectrum: routines, spaces and of medical knowledge (in relation conceptualization of this increasingly emotional experience’, Leisure Studies, to concussion). Additionally, this significant social phenomenon, and 38: 4 (2019), pp. 509–22. chapter points out how an awareness a more explicit elucidation of the DOI: 10.1080/02614367.2019.1597147 of sociocultural factors can enhance distinctive Eliasian framework through our design and delivery of public which future theoretically informed Abstract: Music streaming, structured health messages and that effectively empirical research into contemporary by an expanding network of social understanding sport-related concussion health and medicine can be developed. interdependencies (e.g. musicians, requires a genuinely interdisciplinary sound engineers, computer scientists field of study in which sociocultural Helmut Kuzmics, ‘Norbert Elias and distributors) has made it easier analysis plays an important part. und die Kultursoziologie’, in S. to consume music in a wider number Moebius, F. Nungesser and K. Scherke of social and private spaces and to a [This chapter is part of a broader (eds), Handbuch Kultursoziologie greater degree. This paper examines the ‘concussion and sport’ project, and 1(Dordrecht: Springer), p. 433–4.

4 Figurations Issue No.51 July 2019 dismissal, Brundage reveals the ways role in political processes within Abstract: Norbert Elias’s cultural in which the mythos of American families. Aiming at enhancing our sociological work is defined by striving exceptionalism has underwritten the understanding of communication to overcome the great gap between narrative so evident [in debates] on patterns between service personnel science and the philosophical treatment Capitol Hill. and their home front while being of mind and consciousness, which he separated by deployment, and the perceived as an unbridled dualism. [We haven’t been able to check whether tensions associated with it, this His central historical-sociological, Brundage draws upon Elias, but the study examined: 1) the frequency of civilization-theoretical work was no topic is obviously germane to the communication, communication media, longer intended to be understood as a theory of civilising processes.] and communication strategies used ‘cultural’ sociology, but as a sociology by Dutch deployed Navy personnel par excellence, in which the ‘cultural’ René Moelker, Nina Rones, and and non-deployed partners; 2) the aspect is inseparably coincident with Manon Andres (eds), The Politics conditions under which they choose the political, economic and all other of Military Families. State, Work a particular strategy; and 3) how their aspects of social processes. In addition, Organizations, and the Rise of the communication strategies are associated Elias wrote a whole series of works that Negotiation Household (London: with their well-being and relationship deal theoretically and empirically with Routledge, 2019). 384 pp. ISBN: quality. Quantitative data were collected ‘cultural’ phenomena in the strict sense, 9780367134426 (hb). among 262 deployed Navy personnel from the study of painting, literature and 125 non-deployed partners, while to music. This article thus includes René Moelker was responsible for being separated by deployment. The historical comments on the sociology the reconstruction and publication of results showed that Navy personnel on- of Elias as a cultural sociology, in Elias’s book The Genesis of the Naval board a ship stayed in touch with their particular his civilization theory, Profession (2007), and this edited book home front on a regular basis, using and addresses Elias’s sociology of of 22 chapters contains three by him both asynchronous and synchronous knowledge in terms of the relationship and his co-editors: communication media. Furthermore, between nature and culture and his the findings of this study suggest that sociocultural work in the narrower ‘Introduction: the politics of military supportive communication is a healthy sense. The relationship between Elias’s families and the rise of the negotiation communication strategy, whereas sociology and some other schools of household – tensions between state, protective reticence is not. The findings cultural sociology also receives special work, and families’ (Moelker, Rones, are discussed. recognition. The conclusion includes and Andres) further works by sociologists from the ‘Epilogue: dating from a distance – field of figurational–process sociology. Abstract: This introduction departs love and separation in a networked from a triadic approach that is society’ (Andres and Moelker) W. Fitzhugh Brundage, Civilizing characteristic of the analysis of political Soldiers who are deployed often are Torture: An American Tradition figurations. The family is such a triad also romantically involved. To maintain (Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of in which a father, a mother and a child a good relationship and to keep the Harvard University Press, 2018). ISBN (if it concerns a traditionally composed romance going the couple can use the 9780674737662 (hb). family) are the stakeholders in the internet to continue dating, albeit from political negotiations that make up the a distance. Face-to-face communication Publisher’s blurb: In Civilizing Torture: cement of the figuration. But that’s already is an art. Communication by An American Tradition, American not all! This primary survival unit is the internet, however, takes two times historian W. Fitzhugh Brundage shows linked to the work organization and the effort and is two times as difficult. that alongside the long American the state and the interplay between Psychologically, an e-relationship can lineage of denouncing torture there’s these levels is constitutive of the even be more intense than a real-life an equally enduring culture of both total powerhouse that society is. By relationship whilst sociologically a embracing and excusing barbarism. analysing the negotiations at different whole network is implied. Dating from Brundage revisits a series of moments levels, the authors in the book analyse a distance follows its own rules and and practices – from the initial contact the changes in state, military and family logic. In this chapter the politics of of Europeans with North America, to relationships. electronic relations are reviewed. We the early American republic, to slavery, discuss dating in a networked society, to the American imperial project, to ‘What happens on-board stays falling in love and staying in love, local law enforcement’s embrace of ‘the on-board? The political game of infidelity, and the ‘Dear John’ letter. third degree’, through the Cold War, communication between deployed and up to the present – to demonstrate military personnel and their loved ones’ Néstor Fernando Guerrero Recalde, that behaviour considered to have been (Moelker and Andres) ‘Tramas narrativas de la enseñanza torturous in its own time has been far de la matemática y mejoramiento de more prevalent in US history than we Communication is crucial in la raza en la sociedad colombiana acknowledge. By threading this past maintaining healthy family [Narrative plots of teaching into a cohesive story of debate and relationships and also plays a powerful mathematics for racial improvement in

Issue No.51 July 2019 Figurations 5 Colombian society] Revista Científica, parallel coding, theoretical sensitivity methodological thinking to work in 24 (2018), pp. 73–82. Doi: 10.14483/ or interpretation groups. When my research practice. Built into this udistrital.jour.RC.2016.24.a7 looking at the overall organization of are ideas about ‘documents of life’ and the research process, the distinction in particular letters and how to home Abstract: This article seeks to show the between qualitative and quantitative in on the figurational aspects of letter- reasons which have led to consider the research cannot be upheld. Neither writing and exchanges as a key means school as a privileged institution for the is there a continuum between of opening up the detailed processes at civilizing process. In particular it shows quantitative research, content analysis, work. the reasons which led to the argument grounded theory and social-science that mathematical knowledge was hermeneutics. Rather, grounded theory Chapter 3 puts these ideas into key to the formation of the civilized starts inductively and with a general practice regarding the letters of one individual subject. In the history of research question at the beginning of the Randlords, George Farrar, and Colombia the period 1873–1960 has of analysis which is focused during spells out the detailed elements of my been called the era of ‘eugenic maths’ selective coding. The later research methodology in doing so. This analysis or ‘period of improving the race’. In process is organized in a circular indicates that there were overlapping this period people were oriented to way, making strong use of theoretical associations and figurations of people, eliminate those features of our society sampling. All other traditions start and individuals could be part of a seen as savage and barbaric speech. research deductively and formulate number of figurations with varying Also, this was accompanied with the the research question as precisely as degrees of commitment and centrality. idea of building a new republic through possible at the beginning of the analysis In addition, there were significant scientific educational devices. The most and then organize the overall research differences between Randlords prominent figure in this period was the process in a linear way. In contrast, regarding where their larger goals and German physicist and mathematician data analysis is organized in a circular aspirations lay, such that they were not Julius Sieber. way. One consequence of this paper is a homogenous group. It also shows that mixing and combining qualitative there was a strong figurational effect Nina Baur, ‘Linearity vs. Circularity? and quantitative methods becomes both around Alfred Milner, in which Farrar On Some Common Misconceptions easier (because the distinction is not played a part. on the Differences in the Research as grand as it seems at first sight) and Process in Qualitative and Quantitative more difficult (because some tricky Chapter 4 explores letters and related Research’, Frontiers in Education, 4, issues of mixing specific to mixing documents in the Papers of the Central June 2019, Article 53. DOI: 10.3389/ specific types of methods are usually Mining and Investment Corporation feduc.2019.00053 not addressed in mixed methods (CMIC), with a specific focus on discourse). events both large and small, as events Abstract: Methodological discussions have been seen as a motor-force of often oversimplify by distinguishing Jacques Human, The Randlords and change in some discussions. My between ‘the’ quantitative and figurations: an Eliasian study of social investigation shows that there was a ‘the’ qualitative paradigm and by change and South Africa. Unpublished ‘quasi-figuration’ aspect to the CMIC, arguing that quantitative research PhD thesis, University of Edinburgh, in taking on a figurational character processes are organized in a linear, 2019. in particular circumstances, and with deductive way while qualitative a close association between the men research processes are organized in Abstract: This study investigates involved around finance and business a circular and inductive way. When the role that the Randlords, a but not regarding matters of affect and comparing two selected quantitative group of mining magnates with political purpose. The activities and traditions (survey research and big wide-ranging concerns operating interactions of Randlords explored data research) with three qualitative in the late nineteenth and early here include Julius Wernher, Alfred research traditions (qualitative content twentieth centuries, played in Beit, George Albu, Abe Bailey, Lionel analysis, grounded theory and social- social change in South Africa. The Phillips and Jules Porgés. The men science hermeneutics), a much more approach taken is that of Norbert most closely associated with the CMIC complex picture is revealed: The only Elias’s process sociology, explored can best be described as at basis an differentiation that can be upheld is in Chapter 1. This places a particular association with shared interests, how ‘objectivity’ and ‘intersubjectivity’ emphasis on figurations, evolving although taking on figurational are defined. In contrast, all research groups of interdependent people aspects in particular circumstances. traditions agree that partiality is linked by some shared purpose with More generally, my work on the endangering intersubjectivity and memberships that change over time, CMIC papers shows there was a close objectivity. Countermeasures are as well as on sociogenesis, his term association around finance and business self-reflexion and transforming for the processual and longitudinal but not regarding matters of affect partiality into perspectivity by using aspects of social change. There is and political purpose, suggesting that social theory. Each research tradition no sufficient account of an Eliasian some associations do not quite become suggests further countermeasures research methodology, and Chapter 2 figurational apart from in specific such as falsification, triangulation, develops an approach which puts his circumstances and that the role of

6 Figurations Issue No.51 July 2019 affect in changing the character of an https://www.researchgate.net/ Robert van Krieken, ‘Law and association is an important although not publication/327282648_Nobert_Elias_ civilization: Norbert Elias as a the only factor in this. and_organizational_analysis_towards_ regulation theorist’, Annual Review of process-figurational_theory (this is Law & , 15 (2019): 1–22. Chapter 5 focuses on the letters the original long version of a text and related papers of Randlords from which the two articles below are Abstract: The German sociologist present in the Milner Collection, derived). Norbert Elias developed a wide-ranging and is particularly concerned with sociological analysis of the investigating communications Abstract: This chapter outlines the main interconnections between processes of between Milner and Cecil Rhodes, elements of Elias’s broader sociological state formation, institutional dynamics, Julius Wernher, Percy Fitzpatrick, approach, organised around the and individual subjectivity, or habitus, George Farrar, Alfred Beit and top-level concepts of ‘process’ and and the logic of their processes of Nathaniel Rothschild. It shows that ‘figuration’ followed by two of the transformation over time. His work a number of figurations and quasi- more important elaborations of his has had significant impact on social figurations existed; and while at points theoretical approach, The Court Society scientific thought in a wide variety of these overlapped, they were still and On the Process of Civilization. I fields, including the distinguishable, including a distinct then sketch the main elements of the of the self, violence, crime and Randlord figuration. Milner became ways in which his ideas have been punishment, organizations, , an important figure within a number taken up by organisation scholars to sexuality, social control, and sport. His of them, and as a result often acted as date, concentrating on a selection of influence in legal scholarship, however, bridge between finance interests and studies drawing on Elias, and conclude has concentrated in criminology, a particular brand of Imperial politics, with some reflections on the future with only sporadic use of his ideas in as a symbolic figurehead for a local directions that process-figurational relation to other topics in law and social imperial project closely associated with theory might take in organization science research. This review highlights him and his policies. studies. The core line of argument is the ways in which Elias can be read as that Elias provides a range of powerful a theorist of regulation by outlining (a) While the figurations analysed are theoretical resources to transcend many the core elements of Elias’s ‘process- difficult to pin down, as there are often of the problems usually addressed figurational’ sociology and his analysis overlaps and intersections between through the work of Foucault, actor- of processes of civilization and them, my analysis has put considerable network theory, postmodernist and decivilization; (b) Elias’s observations sociogenetic depth to figuration post-structuralist theory, especially the on law and state formation; (c) a because, as Elias recommends, it supposed agency/structure problem, selection of the socio-legal research has produced reality-congruent ‘real constituting an alternative and related to his sociological approach, in types’. Doing so has shown that what effective analysis of organizational fields such as crime and punishment, binds figurations together differs from life that is anchored in the relational evolving modes of regulation, and case to case, they change over time as and processual strands of classical international relations; and (d) the people join or leave the associational sociological theory potential future directions in which links, and that the shape of figurations Elias’s process-figurational approach also changes because having variable Robert van Krieken, ‘Norbert Elias might move in sociolegal research and and sometimes conflicting cores and and organizational analysis: towards scholarship. These include the emotional peripheries. The thesis concludes that process-figurational theory’, in Steward dimensions of family law, human rights the Randlords did influence social Clegg and Miguel Pina e Cunha, and humanitarianism, the intersections change in South Africa in the specific eds, Management, Organizations and of legal evolution and broader processes sense that for a period of time they Contemporary Social Theory (London: of social change, legal pluralism and dominated the diamond and then the Routledge, 2019), pp. 158–84. legal culture, tort law, constitutionalism, gold industries. However, looking in and the rule of law. detail at small events as well as large Robert van Krieken, ‘Towards https://www.annualreviews. ones in many letter exchanges indicates process-figurational theory in org/doi/abs/10.1146/ that it is the long durée of change set organization studies’, Cambio 8: 6 annurev-lawsocsci-101317-030909 in motion by diamonds and gold that (2018), pp. 141–57. had and continues to have the greater Robert van Krieken, Celebrity impact, rather than deliberate attempts The above two articles both derive Society: The Struggle for Attention, 2nd to produce or control change. from the longer text listed above. The edn (London: Routledge, 2019). former is directed at organisational Robert van Krieken, ‘Norbert sociologists who do not know much This bumper crop of works by Robert Elias and organizational analysis: about Elias, and the latter leaves out all van Krieken is rounded off by noting towards process-figurational theory’ the introductory Elias material, but goes that the second edition of his Celebrity (August 2018), DOI: 10.13140/ into more detail about how he can be Society has just appeared. RG.2.2.32495.28328 used in organisation studies. Available on ResearchGate: Luc Robène and Dominique Bodin,

Issue No.51 July 2019 Figurations 7 Sport et violence: Repenser Norbert Laval (Canada) and Hermann in . slaughter: From spatial concealment Elias [Sport and Violence: Rethinking I wonder what the referees have read to social controversy – Breaching Norbert Elias] (Paris: Hermann, et when they looked at this text? And the boundaries of the permissible? Presses Universitaires de Laval, 2018). especially what did the referees of the Environment and Planning C: Politics 284 pp. ISBN 978-2-7056-9629-0. IJHS? The publication of this kind and Space (November 2018), pp. 1–19. of text in the IJHS could be seen as a DOI 10.1177/2399654418813267 Publisher’s blurb: This book is the concerted attack on figurational theory. result of a research project whose In my review in the Revue européenne Abstract: Across the secular West, objective was not, through discussing des sciences sociales, I didn’t say all the slaughter of animals for food the theory of Elias or the subsequent the things I could have said about this has become an almost clandestine work of Elias and Dunning, to refute text, because the text is too weak to be activity. Very occasionally however, it. It was simply a matter of discussing commented at length. when slaughter comes into view, blind spots and, more simply, what is social and political controversy too often taken for granted: the evident Prisca S. Ngondo and Anna emerges. In this paper, I examine two pacification of sports and through Klyueva: ‘Fear appeals in road such episodes in England and the sports. Two perspectives have led this safety advertising: an analysis of controversies subsequently engendered: analysis: one, sociological, examines a controversial social marketing the controversy over kosher meat the ‘naturalization’ of sport which is campaign in Russia’, Russian Journal and the Jewish method of slaughter at the same time the naturalization of of Communication (2019), DOI: (shechita) in the nineteenth century, the ‘savages’ who need to be civilised; 10.1080/19409419.2018.1555772. and the contemporary controversy the other is philosophical anthropology over halal meat and the Muslim and history, trying to grasp what is Abstract: This study reports the results method of slaughter (dhabiha). long-lasting in this union – or disunion of a content analysis that used the These controversies are complex – of sport and violence. This book is in Extended Parallel Processing Model and double-edged in that, not only line with the work of Hans Peter Duerr (EPPM) to measure the levels of do they involve food, which often (1988) and Daniel Gordon (1994). threat and self-efficacy messages in a invokes anxieties about what is being series of controversial public service ingested and what moral boundaries The reference to Duerr in particular announcements (PSAs) that promoted are being crossed, they also involve suggests that this book is rather old hat. road safety in Russia in 2008. The religion. Both episodes are also A thorough critique can be found in analysis showed that threat messages linked to periods of rapid migration the long review by Jacques Defrance overwhelmingly outnumbered efficacy into the UK, and to concerns about (Université de Paris – Nanterre), in messages. The results suggest that the integration and the threats posed to Revue européenne des sciences sociales Russian social marketing campaign to British values and national identity [Online], 571 | 2019, http://journals. promote road safety neglected to follow by the food practices of outsiders. openedition.org/ress/4738. the recommended pattern of fear appeal However, while concern over kosher Defrance has written to say: The message construction. The road safety meat production and Jewish migrants weakness of the arguments of the two campaign had the potential to induce in the nineteenth century was largely authors is really dismaying. The first fear, but the campaign messages may concealed within the spatial boundaries one has done some research in the not have been sufficient to make the of Jewish communities, from the late history of flying (aviation) in France, audience feel able to prevent or twentieth century onwards halal meat the other one several works on football avoid harm by complying with the road has become increasingly visible in line hooliganism in France (and some other safety rules. The results suggested that with the demographic expansion of the works). Bodin has already expressed future campaign designers should give Muslim population out of racialized a strong hostility to the analysis of more attention to efficacy messages, community spaces. It is in this context, hooliganism by Dunning et al., but particularly response efficacy messages I contend, in line with a new and he has not the historical expertise to that contain a clear call for actions and emerging geography of religious food formulate an alternative analysis of the recommendations on how to prevent practice, that halal meat has breached phenomenon. injury and death. the boundaries of the permissible to challenge the ‘civilized’ values What seems strange is that these texts Note: this article makes use of the underpinning the hegemonic food have already been published in English ideas of civilising and decivilising discourse. twice before: first in theInternational processes, and makes reference to Journal for the History of Sport, 31: Elias’s Studies on the Germans, but J. Lever, R. Sonnino and F. 16 (2014): seven articles accepted at sadly there is no citation of Elias’s Cheetham, ‘Reconfiguring local food the same time! And, then, as a book comparative–historical study of governance in an age of austerity: published by Routledge (2014). trends in road accident fatalities in his towards a place-based approach?’, The book in French is a translation of essay ‘Technisation and civilisation’ Journal of Rural Studies, 69 (2019), the English text by French authors, (Collected Works, vol. 15, pp. 57–92). pp. 97–105. and has been accepted both by the https://doi.org/10.1016/j. Presses Universitaires de Laval in John Lever, ‘Halal meat and religious jrurstud.2019.04.009

8 Figurations Issue No.51 July 2019 than expected. can be attributed to the explanations Abstract: In this paper we examine provided by those who find themselves the dynamic nature of local food Patrick Brown, Ruben Flores, and closest to the phenomenon studied governance by considering the potential Andy Alaszewski, ‘Understanding by the sociologist? To answer, our for (and barriers to) developing a more policy scandals in historical context: a field researchers reviewed the apparent robust approach that can enhance the longer-term lens for policy analysis’, influences of the types of sport socio-ecological resilience of the food Journal of Social Policy. Published practiced, the resources of the clubs, system. Fusing insights from Eliasian online: 26 March 2019. https://doi. the characteristics of their environment sociology with the literature on local org/10.1017/S004727941900014X and their athletes. Finally, the article food governance, we focus on a shows that the indigenous categories region of northern England to explore Abstract: The emergence of and can contribute to better understanding understandings of ‘local food’ and the reaction to policy scandals has been of the social dimension when they are problems local food actors encounter usefully studied through comparative contrasted with the facts. while working within and across the case studies. Far less attention has territorial boundaries of ‘the local’. been devoted, however, to the study of G. Hall and A. Reis, ‘Rugby and This is underpinned by an examination such scandals in long-term historical Sport-for-Development in Brazil: of the pressures local governments face context. With the aim of illuminating From Peripheral to Centre Stage’, in as a result of financial austerity and longer-term social processes which Harris, J and Wise, N. (eds), Rugby competing neoliberal policy priorities shape the likelihood that (health)care in Global Perspective (London: that, we argue, undermine attempts scandals emerge, we delineate three Taylor & Francis, 2019). https://doi. to create synergies between diverse areas where such changes are visible: org/10.4324/9780429320460 food system actors. We conclude by a) changing formats of social relations outlining the potential for developing and emotions within and around care Abstract: This article examines a more relational approach to (and provision, and thereby understandings the ‘SportWorks’ narrative of understanding of) place-based food of and demands for compassionate sport-for-development governance. care; b) heightened organisational practitioners of an inter-organisational and political sensitivity to failings; sport-for-development (SfD) Ludivine Damay and Florence and c) changes in media reporting programme utilising rugby to foster Delmotte, ‘Les Dialogues citoyens on healthcare failings, as well as in positive social transformation in Brazil. de la Commission Européenne: policy-makers’ responsiveness to and In doing so, we address an under- Renforcer l’appartenance ou manipulation of media. We consider representation of practitioners who are confirmer l’impuissance ?’ [The the 2013 Mid Staffordshire scandal in often seen as subjugated voices in SfD ‘Citizens’ Dialogues’ of the European the English National Health Service programmes. The paper also addresses Commission: Strengthening feelings and the extant policy literature on this an under-representation of Brazil of belonging or revealing citizens’ scandal to help illuminate the added as a research site in SfD literature. powerlessness?], Politique européenne, analytical value of our long-term Following several site visits and 62: 4 (2018), pp. 120–50. https://www. approach. In the final section we interviews with practitioners, our data cairn.info/revue-politique-europeenne- explore the interconnection of the concludes that despite a novel context 2018-4-page-120.htm. three processes and how longer-term of Brazil and the alternative values to approaches open up new vistas for football offered through the sport of Abstract: In the context of the European policy analysis. rugby, practitioners and programme Year of Citizens 2013, the European managers maintain dominant narratives Commission launched a new public of social transformation through instrument, the ‘Citizens’ Dialogues’º. Williams Nuytens and Nicolas sport without clear monitoring and A series of public consultations were Penin, ‘Sweat and sour: An approach evaluation. organised in the member states in order to the sociology of violence in male to restore the confidence after several amateur team sports in France’, years of crises. This article is based on European Journal for Sport and BIBLIOGRAPHICAL the observation of dialogues that took Society, February 2019. DOI: RETROSPECT place in Belgium in 2013 and 2014. 10.1080/16138171.2018.1555568 It aims at understanding better which Robert van Krieken, ‘Norbert feelings such an initiative was supposed Abstract: This article focuses on the Elias and Emotions in History’, to strengthen in its initial justifications, problem of violence occurring in male in David Lemmings and Ann the most important of which was to amateur team sports. On the basis of a Books (eds) Emotions and Social strengthen feelings of belonging. Using series of surveys performed between Change: Historical and Sociological Norbert Elias’s reflections on national 2002 and 2010, we propose to contrast Perspectives (London: Routledge, and post-national integration, the indigenous explanatory categories with 2014), pp. 19–42. authors show that this experimentation tools for objective measurement and eventually revealed in most citizens a appreciation. This study is structured We noted this book, a collection feeling of powerlessness more complex by this central question: What status of mainly critical comments about

Issue No.51 July 2019 Figurations 9 Elias by historians, but failed to list RECENT CONFERENCES Civilization with barbarism: The this important chapter by Robert van Colombians in La Violencia (Herbert Krieken. Oxford Conference on Braun, University of Virginia, USA) the Civilizing Process in Peace arrangements after civil wars Colombia, 3–4 May 2019 and the civilizing process in 19th century Colombia (Margarita Garrido, In recent years, several innovative Universidad del Externado, Colombia) developments in process sociology The Generación del Centenario and have focused on explaining the Civilizing Process in Colombia, non-European civilizing processes – 1910–46 on long-term patterns of social and (Eduardo Posada-Carbo, Latin political change in the United States, American Centre/St Antony’s College Cambodia, China, the Ottoman Empire, and Brasenose College, Oxford) Brazil and Japan. There is a clear trend towards the ‘globalisation’ of process Civilizing and decivilization: the case sociology – to exploring its resources of Medellín, 1900–2015 (Jorge Giraldo, for understanding patterns of change in Eafit University, Colombia) the non-Western world. Decivilizing processes in the borders: A major new initiative focuses on the how Colombian’s frontiers challenge its civilizing process in Colombia. It centre is led by Professor Eduardo Posada- (Annette Idler, Department of Politics Carbo, Director of the Latin American and International Relations/Pembroke Centre (LAC) at the Oxford School College, Oxford) of Global and Area Studies, and Dr Carlos Pérez Ricart, also at the LAC Interpersonal violence and the and the History Faculty in Oxford, civilizing process in Colombia, 1600s– who organised a reading group at the 2000s (Victor Uribe-Urán, Florida Centre in the 2018–19 academic year International University, USA) to discuss Elias’s writings. Following that initiative, several scholars gathered The Emergence of the Police in the at the May conference in Brasenose Civilizing Process: the Cases of College, Oxford, to present papers on Colombia & Mexico, 1800–2000s different dimensions of civilizing and (Carlos Perez Ricart, Latin American decivilizing processes in Colombia. Centre, St Antony’s College, Oxford) Violence in Colombia from the colonial era to the recent period was one of From conquest to republic: power, law the central themes but the papers and civilization: an overview (Jorge considered many other topics including Orlando Melo, Universidad Jorge Tadeo sport, manners books and policing as Lozano, Colombia) the following list indicates: Concluding remarks on Elias and the Some reflections on the Colombians civilizing process in Colombia (Andrew after reading Norbert Elias on The Linklater, Aberystwyth University, UK) Germans (Malcolm Deas, Latin American Centre/St Antony’s College The conference was a major Oxford) development for scholars working on Colombia and a very significant Republican manners: political step in the globalisation of process catechisms and conduct sociology. It provided an opportunity manuals in mid-nineteenth- for using process sociological themes century Colombia (Ana Maria Otero, and concepts to understand long-term Universidad de los Andes, Colombia) patterns of change in Colombia but important questions were raised Sports and the civilizing process in about how far it is necessary to Colombia (Matthew Brown, University extend or revise process-sociological of Bristol, UK) investigation when exploring non-Western societies.

10 Figurations Issue No.51 July 2019 Eduardo Posada-Carbo and Carlos A ‘dyscivilising process’ in action’. ‘do things differently’ with our research Perez Ricart at the Latin American The workshop consisted of talks, and to embrace different methods and Centre have ambitious plans to build seminars, breakout sessions poster methodologies. We learnt how C. on the conference by promoting the presentations, Q&As and a field trip to Wright Mills, Norbert Elias and Pearl comparative analysis of civilizing Winston Parva (South Wigston) which Jephcott are role models for doing processes in Brazil, Colombia and was the site of the Established and the things differently and that we should be Mexico. They are to be congratulated Outsider’s study. confident in pursuing what is interesting on the progress they have made in and relevant for us to research. promoting the study of the civilizing In keeping with the theme of doing Afterwards, we had breakout sessions process in Colombia and process things differently, attendees were highlighting the use of different data sociologists must wish them every given recycled canvas bags containing sources currently being used by some success in the further development of a the programme, a notepad, and of Leicester’s PhD students, as well fascinating research project. ‘leftover’ pens and pencils from other as from Professor Liz Stanley and Dr. conferences, as well as a specially Emilia Sereva. These were: Artwork; Andrew Linklater commissioned, biodegradable wooden Political Cartoons; Ethnography and Aberystwyth University badge, gift tag and coaster. One Genealogy; Documentary Sources; attendee has already recycled their Letters; and Video. After lunch, Doing Things Differently badge and made it into a fridge magnet! there was a session devoted to Eric 2019 Workshop: In Honour The coaster was a homage towards Dunning’s life and work led by Dr. of Professor Eric Dunning – the Civilising Process. Throughout Michael Dunning with contributions , the workshop, an Instax camera was from colleagues and friends of Eric. 1-3 July 2019. used to capture people’s experiences Professor Andrew Linklater followed and create a fun retro feel. The images the tribute with a fascinating discussion In July 2019 three Sociology PhD were hung up on a photo frame which on researching harm, the civilising students at the University of Leicester was also commissioned for the event. process and symbols which led us into namely, Will Davis, Jan Davis and We also used Instagram and Twitter a broader ‘Q&A’ session. After the Laurie Parsons, organised and hosted to present live stories, involving workshop, attendees were treated to a a 2.5-day interdisciplinary workshop those who were unable to attend, as meal at Barceloneta in Leicester, which exploring the work of Norbert Elias well as providing another route to was a favourite of Eric’s and a place he and the use of non-mainstream data ask questions and make comments. helped set up. in research entitled ‘Doing Things Feedback from attendees were very Differently’. Attendees ranged positive and it was agreed that we Day Three was the field trip to Winston from undergraduates to Professors. should host this type of workshop Parva, a unique opportunity to walk The idea for this interdisciplinary annually both at the University of through the site of Elias and Scotson’s workshop came from our experiences Leicester and also other Universities. research. It started with Professor John from the Global Interdependencies Goodwin and Dr. Michael Dunning workshop and conference in Brussels Day One was a chance to network and reviewing The Established and the in December 2018. It was recognised for delegates to present their work to Outsiders, the proposed ‘restudy’ as that circulating amongst those students everyone. All sessions were informal, well as the benefits of ‘walking the in attendance at this workshop, and in encouraging authentic and meaningful field’ and engaging in ‘Live Sociology’. wider literature pertinent to our work, exchanges of ideas. The sessions Whilst on the tour in Winston Parva, questions about ‘non-mainstream’ started with ‘mapping our motivations’ we were fortunate enough to meet methodological approaches and data in small groups; introducing ourselves, the keyholder of the church ‘Saint sources were raised. We quickly our work and sharing expectations for Thomas The Apostle’, something that realised more of these workshops were the workshop. Professor Jason Hughes has never happened on this tour before. needed for the current PhD students lead a conversation about researching The feedback on the tour was that as well as others and took it upon the Human Society and how we can use this experience brought the book and ourselves to organise this event. We Elias in our research and institutions research to life and was invaluable. We are extremely grateful for the support as well as highlighting the challenges then returned to the venue on Princess of the Norbert Elias Foundation and the Sociology and other disciplines face Road East in Leicester, debriefed as University of Leicester in helping make in the age of Big Data, methodological a group, and reflected on what steps this workshop happen. fetishism and other ‘crises’. we can take to continue Elias and Throughout the talk, we celebrated Dunning’s legacy in the spirit of ‘doing Many of the attendees came from Professor Eric Dunning’s tenacity of things differently’. Plans are now in overseas with some presenting their researching sport in a period where it motion to establish a contacts list and a work via posters which were put up did not meet with traditional methods Facebook group. around the room. A competition was of enquiry and research. held for the best poster and was won Overall, the workshop was a huge by Dr Rachel Kay Burns for her work Day Two started off with Professor success and the overwhelming ‘Hiding the Holocaust – John Goodwin’s rallying cry for us to consensus was that workshops such

Issue No.51 July 2019 Figurations 11 as these should take place annually to work as a source of guidance to face 4. Education: historical developments, encourage students and academics to the challenges of today’s world, consequences of recent reforms, discuss and present collaboratively. It and who share interest in reality- perspectives. has provided an abundance of learning adjusted social sciences. With this opportunities and new connections. We in mind, the call for SIPC 2020 is 5. The foundations on which mainstream now have ambitions to make this an addressed to scholars from all over economic theory is based, their practical annual ‘colloquium’. We are extremely the world. In order to foster mutual consequences and the contrast of grateful to the Norbert Elias Foundation understanding and broad discussions, these foundations with a processual and the University of Leicester for their simultaneous translation (Portuguese, epistemology. support in making this happen and Spanish, English) will be available cannot wait for the next one! for sessions that require it. With the However, all the thematic proposals are aim of encouraging the renewal of welcome. the international Eliasian community, Proposals should be sent before 4 May FORTHCOMING speakers who are students of any 2020, abstracts not exceeding 500 words. CONFERENCES level (including doctoral students) are The approval of the papers will be exempted from registration fees. The announced on June 29 and the deadline XVIII International Norbert Elias Foundation will help to for reception of the final document (full Symposium - Civilizations facilitate some of the additional support paper to be included in USB) will be Processes (SIPC) - for transatlantic travel. September 15. Interdependencies Contact e-mail: [email protected] in Process, Bogotá, Some of the main themes include the Registration fee: 200,000 Colombian Colombia, 16 – 19 following topics: pesos. November 2020 Student speakers (with certificate of their 1. Past and present of violence condition) do not pay registration. The National University of Colombia in relationships between human Place: National University of Colombia and Corpovisionarios are organizing beings (from the interpersonal to the together the next International international level). Symposium of Civilizing Processes (SIPC) that will be held in Bogotá 2. The theories of human development from 16th to 19th of November 2020. in the history of humanity in light of The idea behind the SIPC was born in the neuroscience revolution. 1996 thanks to a Brazilian initiative and it takes place on biannual bases. It 3. Digital citizenship, realities and encourages the exchange of ideas and problems of citizen participation in new research among scholars of various forms of communication. disciplines, who find Norbert Elias’s

12 Figurations Issue No.51 July 2019 IV ISA Forum of Sociology, OBITUARY an interdisciplinary approach, Porto Alegre, Brazil, 14–18 incorporating socio-cultural history, July 2020 Pieter Spierenburg sociology and anthropology; broad (2 July 1948–21 March 2019) knowledge of literature; and thorough The theme of the ISA Forum in Porto research, in this case of etiquette books. Alegre in July 2020 will be ‘Challenges Such interdisciplinary research was of the Twenty-First Century: something new in the 1970s. Over Democracy, Environment, Inequalities, the next two years he wrote the book Intersectionality’. Further details can be for which he obtained his PhD in found on the ISA website: 1978, Judicial Violence in the Dutch Republic. Corporal Punishment, https://www.isa-sociology.org/en/ Executions and Torture in Amsterdam, conferences/forum/porto-alegre-2020 1650–1750. He analysed the relationship between state formation, The call for session proposals is now criminal law and the application of open and ends on 15 March this year, torture, corporal punishment and the 2019. death penalty, based on a large-scale investigation of the judicial records After the list of sessions has been of Amsterdam. He became a member finalised, the submission ofpaper Among Dutch historians, Pieter of the Working Group on Criminal abstracts will open on 25 April and Spierenburg was the most consistent Law History, in which historians, close on 30 September 2019, 24:00 and loyal follower, and creative sociologists and lawyers worked GMT. Participants and organizers of developer, of Norbert Elias’s ideas. together; Pieter was responsible invited sessions must submit abstracts He began his studies at the University for its international contacts. It was on-line via the Confex platform. of Amsterdam in 1966, and like many characteristic of the new developments Abstracts must be submitted in English, students – and the entire Amsterdam in the history of history in these years French or Spanish. Only abstracts intellectual elite – he was captivated and the enthusiasm with which new submitted on-line will be considered in by the lectures given by the Elias as a areas were being explored. the selection process. visiting professor in 1969–70. In the well-known television programme Pieter was associated with the School Many figurationists are members about Elias made by Abram de Swaan of History, Culture and Communication of RC56 Historical Sociology and/ and Paul van de Bos in 1975, Pieter (in Dutch, Maatschappijgeschiedenis or RC20 Comparative Sociology. If can be seen alongside his sociological – literally ‘societal history’) at the you wish to discuss possible RC56 contemporaries in the opening sequence Erasmus University Rotterdam from sessions, you could contact its of a postgraduate seminar taught by its first years, and from 2006 until his President, Manuela Boatcă (manuela. Elias (he had hair then!). He was one of retirement in 2013 held a personal chair [email protected]), the large Dutch contingent who came as Professor of Historical Criminology Vice-President Robert van Krieken to the conference at Balliol College, at the Faculty of Law. At EUR he was ([email protected]), Oxford, in January 1980, which marked able to continue his interdisciplinary or Secretary Treasurer Paddy Dolan the effective beginning of Elias’s wider approach; the Sub-Faculty of Social ([email protected]). For RC20, reception in the English-speaking History brought together scholars consult its Treasurer, Stephen Vertigans world. And almost 30 years later in from sociology, economics and law, ([email protected]). 2008, challenged by an American while and geography historian to dabble in rival approaches, were also represented. Moreover, with a smile Pieter replied, ‘No thanks, the approach was diachronic from I’ll stick with Elias’. Antiquity to Contemporary History, and comparative in countries and Elias’s ideas about the civilization cultures, from Asia and Africa to process became the starting point of and America. Theory was Pieter’s doctoraalscriptie (Master’s also richly represented at the faculty, dissertation). It was immediately from Marx to Elias and everything in published in the Department of between. Among other things, Pieter History’s series of working papers: gave courses on pre-industrial history ‘The process of civilization in the in the early modern period, from the Netherlands between 1500 and 1800: sixteenth to the eighteenth century. A review of the theory of civilization’. In addition, he presented not only This was the first of his 221 the main lines and the latest insights, publications. It immediately became but also his own vision. In 1988 he clear where his strength as a historian published his book De Verbroken lay: sketching long-term developments; betovering: Mentaliteitsgeschiedenis

Issue No.51 July 2019 Figurations 13 van pre-industrieel Europa, of which University and the University of an English translation appeared three California, Berkeley. Occasionally he CONTRIBUTIONS TO years later (The Broken Spell: A also involved himself in Dutch public FIGURATIONS Cultural and Anthropological History debates. For example, he explained of Preindustrial Europe – Rutgers UP, in De Volkskrant in 2013 that there is The next issue of Figurations will be 1991). a connection between greater social mailed in January 2020. News and inequality and stricter penalties. After notes should be sent by 1 December Pieter wrote and published a great deal his retirement in 2013, he led the ‘Four 2019 to the Editors at figurations@ in English, even when that was not yet Centuries of Labour Camps’ project norbert-elias.com. common, and encouraged international in the Institute for War and Genocide cooperation in the field of historical Studies (NIOD) within the Royal Editor: Dr Barbara Górnicka criminology. In 1978 he was one Netherlands Academy of Arts and (University College Dublin) of the founders of the International Sciences (KNAW). Association for the History of Crime Associate Editors: Dr Katie Liston, and Criminal Justice (IAHCCJ), We both remember how Pieter was School of Sports Studies, University of of which he was secretary until always ready to help colleagues. Ulster, Newtownabbey, County Antrim, 2014. He established his name as an Stephen Mennell remembers how in Northern Ireland BT37 0QB; Professor internationally authoritative historian 2008 Pieter arranged for an ‘author Stephen Mennell, School of Sociology, with books such as The Spectacle of meets critics’ session on his book The University College Dublin, Belfield, Suffering (Cambridge UP, 1984) and American Civilizing Process at the Dublin D04 F6X4, Ireland. The Prison Experience: Disciplinary Social Science History Association in Institutions and their Dimensions in Miami. He also claimed to be proud Editorial Address: School of Sociology, Early Modern Europe (Rutgers UP to have his first ‘picture credit’ for University College Dublin, Belfield, 1991). Both books fundamentally an hilarious picture he had supplied Dublin 4, Ireland. undermined the fashionable views of (see p. 123 in the book). Rudolf Email: [email protected]. (although sociologists Dekker remembers that Pieter once continued to cite Discipline and replaced him in supervising a written Honorary Assistant Editors: Florence Punish far more than Pieter’s work!). exam. A day later he gave him the Delmotte, Brussels (French); Heike The books showed that the prison pile of exam papers, in which a new Hammer, Stuttgart, and Tabea Dörfelt- as an institution of punishment went student was added to the grade list, Mathey, Jena (German); Tatiana Savoia further back than the time of the Kees van Buuren. Van Buuren had Landini, São Paulo (Spanish and Enlightenment, and that the ‘civilising’ done amazingly well in the exam, Portuguese, Latin America). of punishment began gradually before and Rudolf gave him a top mark of the rupture posited by Foucault. In nine. Afterwards Pieter admitted, to Contributions should preferably be 2006, Pieter published a notable article great laughter, that he was Kees van e-mailed to the Editor in the form of in the American Historical Review – Buuren. Pieter was someone who MS Word (.doc or .docx), Rich Text arguably the world’s most important was not bothered by conventions; for (.rtf), plain text (.txt) or Open Office history journal – entitled ‘Democracy his promotie (the public defence of Text (.odt) files. Do not use embedded came too early: a tentative explanation his doctoral thesis) he wore a kind of footnotes. Hard copy is accepted for the problem of American homicide’. leather cowboy jacket, with leather reluctantly. Photographs should be His argument was that in Europe a fringes attached. He also went his own submitted in JPEG format. relatively stable state monopoly of way academically and, as a result, the legitimate use of violence was did ground-breaking research in the © 2019, Norbert Elias Stichting, J.J. established well before the any wide highly relevant field of violence, state Viottastraat 13, 1071 JM Amsterdam, franchise, so that in episodes ach as the formation, civilization and punishment. Netherlands. French Revolution the popular demand He gave lectures to generations of was not to oppose the monopoly but to students from Erasmus University Graphic Design and Desktop ‘co-possess’ it (a term Pieter attributed in an original and inspiring way. His Publishing: Annette van de Sluis. to Elias in the 1969–70 lectures); colleagues, friends and all former Amsterdam, Netherlands. in contrast, democracy came to the students will miss him very much. USA before there was any effective Pieter Spierenburg’s research archive Figurations is distributed free of monopoly of the means of violence, will be transferred to the Noord- charge on request to researchers, the legitimacy of which has been Holland Archief in Haarlem; full institutes or libraries. To be added to challenged up to the present day in details of Pieter’s publications can the mailing list, please write to the controversies about the gun laws and still be found at his website: www. Secretary, Norbert Elias Stichting, J. J. ‘right to bear arms’. pieterspierenburg.com. Viottastraat 13, 1071 JM Amsterdam, Netherlands (email: secretary@ Pieter held many guest professorships, Rudolf Dekker and Stephen Mennell norbert-elias.com) including at Carnegie Mellon

14 Figurations Issue No.51 July 2019