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Newsletter of the Norbert Elias Foundation

PEOPLE CONTENTS • On 20 October 2015, Joop Goudsblom and Hermann Korte will open a series of lectures People 1 at the University of Münster to mark the 50th anniversary of Norbert Elias’s arrival there in the From the Norbert Elias Foundation 2 role of Visiting Professor – the fi rst of many such appointments he was to hold in ensuing years. (For details of the lectures, see p.15 below.) In the media 2 • A conference on ‘Social character and historical Why Elias did not go to Rome 2 processes’ in honour of Stephen Mennell will be held in Dublin on 7–8 January 2016. Everyone is welcome. See further details on p.15 below. On the Isle of Man 2 • Dr Steven Cock, who in 2007 was the fi rst Good works in Leicester 3 winner of the Chester Norbert Elias Prize for his thesis on swimming (see Figurations 27) has been appointed to a permanent post as Lecturer Figurational Journals online 4 in Sport Education and Development in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at York St Other journals 4 John University (that is, York, England).

• The recipient of the Chester Norbert Elias Prize Recent books and articles 5 in 2011, Dr Sharon Wheeler, has also been given a permanent post as Lecturer in Sport Education Bibliographical retrospect 12 and Development at York St John’s. Her thesis was entitled ‘The signifi cance of family culture for sports participation’ – we regret that this Obituary: Peter Freund 13 seems not to have been reported in Figurations at the time. CfP: Norbert Elias and Violence 13 • Gad Yair has been promoted to full Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology Recent conferences 14 at the Hebrew University Jerusalem.

Lecture series: Gesellschaftsprozesse und individuelle Praxis 15 • Matt Clement (University of Winchester) is at last a doctor. He says John Lever’s reaction was ‘About bloody time!’ – but that’s unfair, because Forthcoming conferences 15 there used to be a well-established tradition of fi gurational sociologists taking their doctorates at what would now be considered an advanced age.

Issue No.43 August 2015 Figurations 1

Figurations 43.indd 1 18-08-15 13:10 Matt’s thesis was on ‘Exclusion, show a visit to Rome in 1938, with (London: Toccata Press, 2014). 243 pp. Criminalisation and Riot: A city pictures of famous tourist sites and ISBN: 978 0 907689 75 1. case-study’. even a parade during Hitler’s state visit. Many readers of Figurations will be • Esteban Castro writes: ‘The next One of the pictures is labelled ‘View familiar with the name of Hans Gál as meeting of the network [on water of the Roman Forum from the Capitol, the composer who provided the music resources] I am coordinating will Rome, May 1938’ and another one ‘In for Norbert Elias’s satirical sketch have a ‘long-term’ approach: Palazzo Venezia, Rome, May 9th, 1938. ‘Die Ballade vom Armen Jakob’, first http://waterlat.org/meetings/public- Crowd watching parade for Hitler’, a performed as part of a revue by inmates meetings/waterlat-gobacit-2015/ . third ‘Interior view of the Coliseum of the British internment camp on the I hope it will produce an excellent Rome, showing the three rows of Isle of Man in 1940. Gál (1890–1987) debate. I am working with people seating accommodation, May 1938’. had been a prominent composer in from the university in Mexico Others show the Arch of Constantine, Weimar Germany, and Music Director that will host the event, and there the view from the the Duomo in Milan, in Mainz until he was summarily is much interest in long-term and Venice. sacked when the Nazis took power perspectives and a good dialogue Could it be that Elias was an eyewitness early in 1933. on Elias-related work. of the Führer’s visit to Mussolini? The answer is simple: No. This did not In 1940, after the fall of France and happen. Elias neither had the financial in the face of the threat of a German FROM THE NORBERT resources for such travel, nor was he invasion of Britain and in fear of ‘fifth ELIAS FOUNDATION foolish enough to travel as a stateless columnists’, the Churchill government At the end of the highly successful Jew through the fascist states of was panicked into giving the order to conference held in Leicester in June Germany and Italy. ‘Collar the lot’ – to intern all German 2014 to mark the completion of the citizens in Britain (see Gillman and publication of the Collected Works More pictures found in the papers Gillman, 2003). In consequence, Gál, of Norbert Elias, there was a popular show travels to Egypt 1937, the St. like Elias, found himself first in Camp demand for there to be a similar Stephanus Cathedral in Budapest, Huyton near Liverpool and then on the conference every two years. The Zagreb, Mount Rigi in Switzerland, the Isle of Man. Foundation is therefore pleased to Heldenhalle in Munich, rural England, announce and to support the conference Canterbury cathedral, and even exotic Gal wrote a highly readable diary on ‘Changing power relations …’ on places like Aden and Colombo. of his time in internment, which 8–10 September 2016 at the University So, the question is: Where did all these was published in German in 2003. of Münster. For further details and the photographs come from? The most This translation by his daughter and call for papers, see under Forthcoming important clue is the handwriting on the son-in-law is also an interesting read Conferences pp.15-16 below. back of them. It was definitely not the as a whole. But for our purposes, handwriting of Norbert Elias. I went to the references to Elias are especially Before the meeting of the Board of the Marbach in November and December significant; indeed Hermann Korte Norbert Elias Foundation in Amsterdam and compared it with the handwritings has already drawn attention to them in in January, John Goodwin and Jason of his friends and social environment. lectures on ‘Armen Jakob’ (see Korte, Hughes gave a seminar to a small It resembles to the handwriting of Ilse 2013). invited audience about the study they Glücksmann. So maybe she was the have been making of John L. Scotson’s one labelling the photos, and if she was, On p. 71, Gál writes MA thesis, which formed the basis of she was either the person who took the the subsequent book The Established pictures or at least knew enough about ‘I have been approached repeatedly to and the Outsiders. It is hoped that their their origin to identify the places. give talks in the camp university that findings will be published eventually. is now beginning to get under way [in Ilse Glücksmann came to England Camp Huyton]. But I’m so unwilling Human Figurations: Redirection of in November 1938. Maybe she had to talk about music when I am not able communication to the journal them in her luggage. Maybe Elias to give examples on an instrument. I Please note that in future, all obtained them from someone else. But will rather become a student myself communications to the journal should it is impossible that he made all these and go to lectures. Two excellent be sent to the following email address: journeys himself. people interest me especially: Dr Elias, [email protected] Adrian Jitschin a sociologist, and Dr Liebeschütz, an historian.’

WHY ELIAS DID NOT GO ON THE ISLE OF MAN On p. 76, Gal recounts the decision TO ROME to relocate internees to the Isle of Some of the photos found in the papers Hans Gál, Music behind Barbed Man; besides himself, the first party of Norbert Elias (see Figurations 42) Wire: A Diary of Summer 1940, to be transferred included ‘most of the seemed spectacular: they apparently trans. Anthony Fox and Eva Fox-Gál professors of the Camp University,

2 Figurations Issue No.43 August 2015

Figurations 43.indd 2 18-08-15 13:10 among them … Dr Elias … and many include a whole volume of translations of their students’. of Elias’s German poetry in the English Collected Works. Unexpectedly, to me By p. 158, Gál is telling the story of at least, the recording of ‘Die Ballade’ the revue ‘What a Life!’, of which ‘Die is of the English translation, not Elias’s Ballade vom Armen Jakob’ formed original German. part: The book is also fascinating for its ‘Professor Elias, the sociologist, who, extensive dramatis personae besides it now appears, also has a literary Gál himself and Elias. Names that side to him, came with a very unusual caught my eye included the art historian and extremely interesting work, half Sir Ernst Gombrich, the musicologist in prose, half in verse, which is to be Otto Deutsch (famous for his catalogue performed with music and illustrated of the works of Schubert), and the with some kind of living pictures, physicist Klaus Fuchs, notorious for ‘The Ballad of Poor Jacob’. The having ‘betrayed’ the secrets of the Youth Group are to do this. I fought atom bomb to the USSR. tooth and nail against any demand for a melodrama, as I basically hate the Hans Gál was fortunate in having been genre. But I was half won-over when I befriended on his arrival in Britain by saw the first pages of the poem (which the musicologist Sir Donald Tovey, who is extensive, and will take at least a invited him to teach at the University of 1 for the translation of a special issue quarter of an hour), and I believe I have Edinburgh, to which he returned after of the Transylvanian Society journal found a form which avoids everything his internment and where he stayed for on the work of Norbert Elias (Erdélyi that I find intolerable about melodrama. the rest of his life. His music rather fell Társadalom 12: 2 (2014), which was The music will start whenever the prose into neglect, although there are some co-edited by John Goodwin, Miklos turns to verse …’ signs of a revival of interest in it. He Hadas, Jason Hughes and Reka Plugor. was BBC Radio 3’s Composer of the Published in Hungarian, this also But then, on p. 166, a situation all too Week from 5–9 May 2014. led to Jason providing a keynote on familiar to those who knew Elias later Elias’s work, plus an interview, to the in his life: Stephen Mennell Hungarian Sociological Association conference in November 2014. ‘Even “Poor Jacob”, whose extended References final part I only finished yesterday, is 2 for the transcription of their still a torso on the stage. Professor Elias Hans Gál, Musik hinter Stacheldraht: January seminar on The Established held us up for a long time because no Tagebuchblätter aus dem Sommer and Outsiders in Amsterdam (see final fair copy could be got out of him.’ 1940, ed. Eva Fox-Gál (Bern: Lang, above). 2003). On the other hand, ‘He [Elias], too, has 3 for a full set of the Elias Collected been overtaken by the fascination of Peter Gillman and Leni Gillman, Works in the University of Leicester the theatre, he is full of enthusiasm. We Collar the Lot! How Britain Interned Library. all found this work of literature – for and Expelled its Wartime Refugees such it is – enthralling, but I am still (London: Quartet, 1980). 4 And, best of all, it paid £3,000 uncertain whether it will not rather be to fund an entire study room full of harmed through the trivialisation of Hermann Korte, ‘Armer Jakob, Armer Norbert Elias chairs in the University set-designs.’ Norbert, Armer Hans’, in Hermann Library (Study Room 3.3) — see Korte, Biographische Skizzen zu pictures attached. In addition to the One good reason to buy this book is Norbert Elias (Wiesbaden: Springer chairs, it is planned to include a that it comes complete with a CD of the VS, 2013), pp. 85–100. commemorative plaque on the wall of music written by Gál in the summer of the reading room. 1940, including ‘Die Ballade’. Just as valuable is the fact that on pp. 203–14 GOOD WORKS IN can be found not just the German text LEICESTER of Elias’s libretto, but also for the first time an English translation. The Slightly to their surprise, John Goodwin German has been published before – and Jason Hughes found that there in Los der Menschen (1987) and in was a small financial surplus after the Gedichte und Sprüche (vol. 18 of the Leicester conference in June 2014, and Elias Gesammelte Schriften, 2004), they tell us that they put the money to but we decide that it was impractical to good use. It paid:

Issue No.43 August 2015 Figurations 3

Figurations 43.indd 3 18-08-15 13:10 FIGURATIONAL JOURNALS a Marc Lazar - a cura di Paolo D. Stroikos, ‘Introduction: rethinking ONLINE Giovannini e Giulia Mascagni the standard(s) of civilisation(s) in International Relations’ Cambio No. 8, December Book Reviews 2014 – http://www. T. E. Aalberts, ‘Rethinking the principle cambio.unifi.it/CMpro- of (sovereign) equality as a standard of v-p-54.html OTHER JOURNALS civilisation’

Contents Millennium: Journal of C.-A. Schulz, ‘Civilisation, barbarism International Studies and the making of Latin America’s Special Section: Political Cultures in Special issue on place in nineteenth-century international Transformation ‘Rethinking the Standard(s) society’ Introduzione alla sezione monografica of Civilisation(s) in – Carlo Baccetti and Dimitri D’Andrea International Relations’, B. Bowden, ‘To rethink standards of Old and New Political Subjects – 42: 3 (2014). civilisation, start with the end’ Daniel Innerarity Come in uno specchio: populismo e This special issue of Millennium F. C. Buranelli, ‘Knockin’ on heaven’s governamentalità neoliberale – Laura considers the importance of the door: Russia, Central Asia and the Bazzicalupo ‘standard of civilisation’ in international mediated expansion of international Le regioni rosse nell’Europa society. With its formulation in society’ [see abstract elsewhere in this continentale: Un’epopea del Novecento nineteenth century international issue of Figurations] – Mario Caciagli law, the ‘standard of civilisation’ Quante Italie? Il ritorno al tradizionale distinguished between the inner circle B. Buzan, ‘The “standard of civilisation” cleavage tra Nord e Sud del paese – of ‘civilised’ European states with full as an English School Concept’ Paola Bordandini and Roberto Cartocci membership of international society Il cambiamento delle culture politiche and the outer realm of ‘uncivilised’ E. Cudworth and S. Hobden, in Italia: note per un programma di non-European societies that was ‘Civilisation and the domination of the ricerca – Antonio Floridia granted only colonial or semi-colonial animal’ Uno spettro s’aggira per l’Europa... status. The right of European societies Sugli usi e gli abusi del concetto di to civilise non-European societies was J. Hobson, ‘The twin self delusions of ‘gender’ – Lorenzo Bernini enshrined in international law. The IR: why hierarchy and not anarchy is the Il partito-paradosso: il modello teorico prospect of eventual membership of core concept of IR’ di Fabrizio Barca come tentativo di international society was held out riconciliazione tra sfera sociale e to those societies that succeeded in E. Keene, ‘The standard of “civilisation”, oggettivazione partitica – Lorenzo emulating Europe’s ‘civilised’ legal and the expansion thesis and the nineteenth- Bruni political institutions. century international social space,

EliasianThemes The decolonisation process led to K. Nicolaidis et al., ‘From metropolis to Production and Reproduction of the disappearance of the ‘standard microcosmos: The EU’s new standards of Social Inequalities: The Role of Group of civilisation’ from government civilisation’ Charisma and Group Disgrace – Angela discourse. However, in recent years, Perulli there has been renewed scholarly A. Phillips, ‘Civilising missions and the Lo Stato Giano bifronte: intervista a interest in how the ‘standard of rise of international hierarchies in early Norbert Elias (translation by Angela civilisation’ continues to shape the modern Asia’ [see abstract elsewhere in Perulli of an interview with Peter contemporary society of states. this issue of Figurations] Ludes, Franklin Adler and Paul Piccone Its current forms are evident in first published in Interviews and Western efforts to promote liberal M. K. Ramgotra, ‘Republic and Empire Autobiographical Reflections, Collected conceptions of individual human rights, in Montesquieu’s Spirit of the Laws’ Works, vol. 17, 2013). democratic government and economic liberalisation. They are also embodied S. Suzuki, ‘Journey to the West: China Essays and Researches in various peace-building and state- debates its “Great Power” identity’ The Urban Panopticon – Vanesa Lio building projects. La capacità di aspirare: Immagini di A. E. Towns, ‘Carrying the load of futuro di figli e figlie di migranti a This special issue consists of the civilisation: the status of women and Reggio Calabria – Simona Miceli following articles on the development challenged hierarchies’ of the standard of civilisation which are Contributions a significant resource for students of the Y. Zhang, ‘The standard of “civilisation” Il populismo e l’eguaglianza inter-relations between the European redux: towards the expansion of immaginaria – Franco Rositi civilising process and the international international society 3.0?’ Francia, Europa, Islam: un’intervista society of states:

4 Figurations Issue No.43 August 2015

Figurations 43.indd 4 18-08-15 13:10 RECENT BOOKS AND ARTICLES

Editor’s note worst abominations without apparent dependence on fuel reflects our strong moral misgiving, without a sense of and intimate bond with fire. This bond In the past, our policy has been to wait personal responsibility, and, above all, is unique: no other animal species has until books and articles have actually without pity. De Swaan wonders where acquired the capacity to control fire appeared in print before we listed them extreme violence comes from and and exploit the energy released by it. in Figurations. Today, however, it is where it goes – seemingly without a Control over fire is a human ‘species quite normal for journal articles to be trace – when the wild and barbaric gore monopoly’. In addition to being unique, published online some time before (and is over. And what about the perpetrators the human bond with fire is also of course sometimes instead of) being themselves? Are they merely and only universal. There are no known cases printed. Tentatively, in this issue we the product of external circumstance? of human societies in recorded times have included a few instances of this. Or is there something in their makeup that lacked the capacity to handle fire. The DOI reference number is given that disposes them to become mass Stories that sometimes appeared in the but, obviously, we have not been able murderers? Drawing on a wide range anthropological literature about peoples to give the exact bibliographical details of disciplines, including sociology, who had never learned to master the art for the printed versions. anthropology, political science, history, of tending a fire have all been proved and psychology, De Swaan sheds spurious. Many unique and universal SJM new light on an urgent and intractable human features are, of course, directly pathology that continues to poison related to our biological nature. The Abram de Swaan, The Killing peoples all over the world. capacity to handle fire, however, is Compartments. The Mentality of not a naturally inborn ability. It is Mass Murder (New Haven: Yale Goudsblom, Johan, ‘Fire and Fuel acquired, it is a cultural asset, the result University Press, 2015), 344 pp. ISBN: in Human History’ in David Christian of collective learning. These, then, 9780300208726. (ed.), Cambridge History of the are three general characteristics of the World, vol. I. (Cambridge: Cambridge human bond with fire: it is unique, The twentieth century was among the University Press, 2015), pp. 185–207. universal, and cultural – a remarkable bloodiest in the history of humanity. combination. Untold millions were slaughtered. How This chapter deals with the peculiar people are enrolled in the service of evil bond between humans and fire: what, in Patrick Murphy, The Medieval is a question that continues to bedevil. the course of history, have we humans Housebook and Elias’s ‘Scenes from the In this trenchant book, Abram de Swaan done with fire, and what has fire done Life of a Knight’: A case study fit for offers a taxonomy of mass violence to us? All animal species except one purpose? that focuses on the rank-and-file derive their own physical energy http://www.norberteliasfoundation.nl/ perpetrators, examining how murderous mainly from one single source: food. docs/pdf/MedievalHousebook.pdf regimes recruit them and create We humans are the only exception: what De Swaan calls the ‘killing we derive most of our physical energy In 2012 Patrick Murphy co-authored compartments’ that make possible the from two sources: food and fuel. The with Stephen Mennell ‘Notes on

Issue No.43 August 2015 Figurations 5

Figurations 43.indd 5 18-08-15 13:10 the plates from Das mittelalterliche Unfortunately, as Dr Dörfelt-Mathey has been largely restricted to Europe Hausbuch’, which was published carefully documents, there appear to and North America. There is no sign, as Appendix XXX to the Collected be an awful lot of readers who fail and unfortunately, that this situation will Works edition of On the Process of failed to appreciate and do not know be remedied soon. With respect to Civilisation (Dublin: UCD Press, 2012 Elias’s poetry. Elias is unfortunate organised murder, on the other hand, [Collected Works, vol. 3], pp. 613–16). in that no-one knew or cared about enough work has been done recently It was Patrick who, through very close his poetry. Even Siegfried Unseld – to cast doubt on the claim that it was reading of the famous section entitled the famous head of Suhrkamp, who especially characteristic for the last ‘Scenes from the life of a knight’ published everything Elias wrote 150 years or so. Although estimating (ibid., pp. 199–209), ascertained that from the mid-1970s including Los der its quantitative dimensions relative to Norbert Elias had made reference to no Menschen, the first collection of Elias’s population figures over time remains fewer than 14 of the drawings in the poetry – is quoted as being indifferent a hazardous enterprise, it appears Mittelalterliches Hausbuch. to it. Elias was doubly unfortunate possible to do so with greater precision in that no-one tried to tear his poetry in the future. Another promising Patrick Murphy’s research extended apart. It is healthy if poetry provokes research question lies in identifying, much more broadly, and the text that dislike – Elias’s poetry appears to have globally, long-term changes in the is made available here has never been provoked only indifference. characteristics of organised murder. published before. In it, he is quite critical of the assumptions made and For a poet who believed that poetry was Harry Redner, ‘The civilising process interpretations drawn by Elias almost dialogue, the absence of response is – according to Mennell, Elias and 80 years ago, but his text contains a more than unfortunate. It is unfortunate Freud: great deal of information that will be for Dr Dörfelt-Mathey too, in that a critique’, Thesis Eleven 127:1 (2015), of considerable interest to students of one feels she is better at defending pp. 95-111. Elias. his poetry than at selling it. She has produced a fine study, but it is not Abstract: This article critiques theories The PDF runs to 253 pages and certain that it will be welcomed in of the civilising process as expounded includes many other illustrations the Elias circles which don’t like his by its leading expositors: Mennell, besides the 14 images to which Elias poetry. It is excellent at showing what Elias and Freud. It begins with a referred. It amounts to the first e-book poetry meant to Elias and where it fitted criticism of Stephen Mennell’s book we have offered on the Norbert Elias into his ideas. But for poetry readers The American Civilizing Process. This Foundation website, from which it can her book leaves us short – in just the book relies on an even more famous be downloaded free of charge: http:// place Elias also left them. Perhaps this work, Norbert Elias’s The Civilizing www.norberteliasfoundation.nl/docs/ creates a need for a slightly different Process. Unfortunately, Mennell’s pdf/MedievalHousebook.pdf approach: for those who do not know otherwise commendable attempt to the poetry, more attractive; for those capture American civilisation in its Tabea Dörfelt-Mathey, Dichtung als who do not like it, more persuasive. historical scope and sociological Menschenwissenschaft: Das poetische And perhaps less respectful. complexity is mis-directed because Werk von Norbert Elias. (Figurationen: Eliasian theory is not applicable Schriften zur Zivilisations- und Hugh Ridley to America, as we will show, and Prozesstheorie, vol. 11.) Wiesbaden: Canterbury/Lichtenberg furthermore offers a dubious account Springer VS, 2015. 335 pp. ISBN: of civilisation in general. Elias’s 978-3-658-06969-8 (pb); 978-3-658- Pieter Spierenburg, ‘Toward a global approach is limited above all by its 06970-4 (e-book). history of homicide and organised reliance on Sigmund Freud’s doubtful murder’, Crime, Histoire & Sociétés/ speculations about civilisation, as Dr Dörfelt-Mathey is in an unusual Crime, History & Societies 18: 2 presented in Civilisation and its situation. She is writing what is an (2014), pp. 99–116. Discontents. excellently structured study of a body of poetry and poetological writings. This essay is an introduction to a [Stephen Mennell will be drafting She gives a clear account of the special issue of the journal. Spierenburg a reply to Harry Redner over the situation in which the poetry came to writes in his conclusion that ‘A summer.] be written, placing both the oeuvre and superficial examination of the historical the individual poems in an individual literature on homicide and organised Peter Freund, ‘Norbert Elias and historical context. She approaches murder yields two diametrically and Erving Goffman: civilised– the poetry with an excellent critical opposed conclusions, designating dramaturgical bodies, social status and apparatus. No-one who appreciates the last 150 years, respectively, health inequalities’, in Fran Collyer Elias’s poetry will fail to be grateful as the most peaceful and the most (ed.), The Palgrave Handbook of Social to her for this work and – if a critic’s violent era ever. In fact, both of these Theory in Health, Illness and Medicine labours can be said to elevate the poet’s preliminary conclusions are based on (Basingstoke: Palgrave-Macmillan, creations – then this is what she does. incomplete research. The research 2015), p. 158. into the long-term history of homicide

6 Figurations Issue No.43 August 2015

Figurations 43.indd 6 18-08-15 13:10 Abstract: This chapter explores the CSS is good at criticising social sources assumed equality, tolerance and unity relevance of the works of Norbert Elias of suffering, but arguably requires a of London 2012, including perceptions and Erving Goffman for understanding constant engagement with a variety of disabilities, gender equality and some connections between ‘mind– of normative discourses in order to national identities. Addressing key bodies’, society, health and well-being. regain clarity as to its motivations and controversies that emerged before, After brief biographical sketches of purposes. On the other hand, although during and after the spectacle of Elias and Goffman, Elias’s work on the Buddhism stresses personal liberation the Games, this collection uses the civilising process is discussed along and provides tools for addressing sociological concept of ‘diminishing with his ‘psychosomatics’ in which he existential suffering, it has nevertheless contrasts, increasing varieties’ to suggests neuro-hormonal pathways historically neglected social causes evaluate the real legacy of London between mind–bodies and society. of suffering. Thus, there are spaces 2012. The increasingly internalised forms of for mutual enrichment and synthesis, social control, characteristic of civilised as well as areas of disagreement that John Connolly, ‘Elias and habitus: societies, are embodied in the form of could potentially spur further dialogue, explaining bureaucratisation processes what Elias called the habitus. critique, self-critique, and refl exivity. in the Gaelic Football Association’, Culture and Organization ahead of Ruben Flores and Stephen Mennell, Thomas Scheff, ‘Toward integration: print (2015), pp. 1–24. ‘Apropos “The Collected Works of disciplines, specialities and journals’, Norbert Elias”: An Interview [by Ruben The American Sociologist 46:1 (2015), Abstract: Based on a case study of Flores] with Stephen J. Mennell’, pp. 116-121. the Gaelic Athletic Association in Sociologica 3/2014. Ireland, this paper examines how http://www.sociologica.mulino. Abstract: Specialisation is the way bureaucratisation advanced and the it/journal/article/index/Article/ to start a discipline, but it must not specifi c structure it took. Drawing Journal:ARTICLE:816/Item/ become a religion. When rigid, it is an on Elias’s concept of habitus, and Journal:ARTICLE:816 impediment to advancing knowledge: the wider theoretical framework that the more rigidly specialised, the less informs it, the paper explains how Abstract: In this interview, Stephen relevant to advancing knowledge. an ambivalent attitude amongst the Mennell tells the story behind the Currently this rigidity seems to be the organisation’s administrators towards publication of the Collected Works key problem in social and behavioral volunteerism emerged and became of Norbert Elias (UCD Press), and studies and in the humanities as deeply sedimented within the habitus of refl ects on some aspects of Elias’s life well. For example, it seems clear administrators. Over time, the habitus and work, such as Marx’s infl uence on that complete adherence to what of administrators also became more Elias, and Elias’s contribution to Group psychologists think of as the scientifi c self-steering. This more self-restrained Analysis. In addition, Mennell shares method has brought the discipline to habitus facilitated a capacity for greater his memories of Robert Bellah, lists a virtual standstill. Two examples: calculation, foresight and coordination, some of his favourite books, and offers ‘aggression catharsis’ and self-esteem. a necessary precondition for more some advice to aspiring sociologists. expansive bureaucratisation. As such, The interview was conducted in Tom Gibbons and Kevin Dixon the main contribution of this paper is to Moscow in November 2013, and was (eds), The Impact of the 2012 Olympic expand existing theoretical explanations subsequently revised and annotated by and Paralympic Games: Diminishing of bureaucratisation by connecting Professor Mennell. contrasts, increasing varieties shifting inter- and intra-organisational (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, interdependencies at different planes of Ruben Flores, ‘Making sense of 2015) 112 pp. ISBN: 9781137405074. integration with habitus change. suffering: insights from Buddhism and critical social science’, in Ronald E. During the Games and in their Ademir Gebara, Célio Juvenal Costa Anderson (ed.), World Suffering and immediate aftermath, the London and Magda Sarat (eds), Leituras de Quality of Life (New York: Springer 2012 Olympics and Paralympics Norbert Elias: processo civilizador, Publishing), pp. 65–73. were heralded a success. The hosts, educação e fronteiras (Maringá: Great Britain, were celebrated by the Eduem, 2014). 263 pp. ISBN: Abstract: In order to enrich our media and the International Olympic 978-85-7628-618-9 analytical framework for the study and Committee for the outward promotion alleviation of suffering, this chapter of equality, tolerance and unity as This collection contains essays by Cas argues that there are good reasons well as inspiring a legacy to continue Wouters, Johan Goudsblom and Abram to encourage a dialogue between these core Olympic and Paralympic de Swaan, but (more distinctively) by Buddhism and critical social science values. This volume attempts to many of the leading Latin American (CSS). Although both traditions question these assumed ‘successes’ Eliasians. The conributions are groups hold the reduction of suffering as using both qualitative and quantitative under the headings: Elias and the theory fundamental, they provide different methods. Each chapter negotiates a of civilising processes; Elias, sociology causal understandings of and different sociological topic relating and anthropology; Elias and education; recommendations for healing suffering. to the juxtaposition between the Elias and literature; and Elias and history.

Issue No.43 August 2015 Figurations 7

Figurations 43.indd 7 18-08-15 13:10 John Connolly, ‘Civilising processes Gad Yair, ‘The Germans: cultural gender and generation that are at play and doping in professional cycling’, trauma and the Israeli habitus’, within families. On the other hand, it Current Sociology (2015): DOI: American Journal of Cultural has been claimed that a family has a 0011392115576765. Sociology, 3, 254–79 (June 2015) special dynamic of its own that requires a language of family. In this paper, Abstract: This article contends that Abstract: This article reports results we present a figurational approach professional cyclists have undergone from a qualitative study of Israelis for studying family relationships both civilising processes in relation to living in Germany, focusing on their as personally lived and as embedded doping within the sport. Drawing traumatised national habitus. The study in wider webs of relationships. on the theoretical approach of Elias, is based on 80 in-depth interviews and The proposed approach combines the author argues that over time on replies of more than 100 respondents qualitative insight drawn from stronger shame feelings in relation to an online questionnaire. The present interviews and a systematic mapping to doping became part of the social article focuses on one specific aspect of significant webs of relationships habitus of professional cyclists and of the Israeli traumatised habitus: ‘the that both constrain and enable people. doping became increasingly ‘pushed wounded eye and the scratched ear’. Combining these two aspects highlights behind the scenes’. Yet, contradictions Specifically, it explores the ways by the complex family dynamics and and reversals persisted in attitudes which the trauma of the Holocaust is lived ambivalences between personal and behaviour. These fractures and inscribed in Israeli senses. It details affinities and relational expectations. discontinuities occurred due to several how respondents’ eyes, ears and The paper draws from empirical interconnected processes: the role of thoughts are activated by German studies in which significant life events, suffering within the sport and the nature mundane episodes, linking day-to-day including marriage and biographical of mutual identification that developed experiences to the trauma of the disruptions, such as loss, divorce and around it, the specific structure of the Holocaust. Trains, suspect Israelis illness, reconfigure people’s lives and figuration of professional cycle sport, boarding them, might end up in selves, highlighting the contemporary and the slowness of a comprehensive Auschwitz; snow brings up associations complexity of families and personal and effective monopoly apparatus of the death marches; old people are relationships. The article develops over the control of doping to emerge perceived as Gestapo officers; and relational methodology, addressing the and the perceived legitimacy of this. contemporary child-rearing practices middle ground of relations to bring Combined these processes generated ‘explain’ to Israelis the obedience and together the personal and the more a social habitus in which doping only collaboration of ordinary Germans structural aspects of family dynamics very slowly came to be perceived as with the Third Reich. Using thick that phases of biographical change shameful and which varied across description from the interviews I make visible. space and time. Despite this a civilising expose the suspicious Israeli habitus advance is evident. – which always looks for ‘signs’ Richard Kilminster, ‘How has a that might explain what happened in post-philosophical sociology become Gad Yair, ‘Israeli existential anxiety: Germany 80 years ago. possible? A response to Philip Walsh’, cultural trauma and the constitution of Philosophy of the Social Sciences 45:3 national character’, Social Identities Gad Yair has also published a new (June 2015) (online April/May). 20:4-5 (2014), pp. 346-362. book in Hebrew: Love is not Praktish: The Israeli View of Germany (Kubbutz Abstract: This paper responds to Philip Abstract: The present paper extends Meuchad: Kav Adom, 2015). Walsh’s defence (in Philosophy of the recent studies of national character Social Sciences, March 2014 issue) of – suggesting that the Israeli case Anna-Maija Castrén and Kaisa the traditional Lockean ‘underlabourer’ revolves around a set of deep cultural Ketokivi, ‘Studying the complex conception of the role of philosophy codes which constitute various dynamics of family relationships: a against Norbert Elias’s sociology of empirical manifestations. Broadening figurational approach’,Sociological knowledge. The paper argues, contra on this re-emerging paradigm, the Research Online 20: 1 (2015). http:// Walsh, that the ‘post-philosophical’ study provides a specific case study www.socresonline.org.uk/20/1/3.html status of sociology is already an of a major trait of Israeli national historical fait accompli. The author character, namely existential anxiety Abstract: In this paper, we present challenges Walsh’s contention that and fear of annihilation. It does so a figurational approach to studying Elias’s perspectival sociological theory while advancing the idea that cultural family relationships drawing from of knowledge is fatally flawed by its trauma sets a context for Israeli national Norbert Elias’s notion of figuration improper use of the concept of process character. The analysis shows that that combines insider and outsider as a central principle. The response Israelis constantly reference persistent perspectives to complex relational concludes that Walsh’s article is a and endemic existential fears of dynamics. In recent discussions on formidable mobilisation of logical, annihilation. They do so while tying intimacy and personal lives, the family conceptual, analytical and other together four levels: the mythological has been viewed as a subset of any theoretical resources tacitly designed predicament, historical evidence, personal relationships despite the to save the autonomy of philosophy contemporary threats and future risks. structural dynamics of, for example, at all costs in the face of the advanced

8 Figurations Issue No.43 August 2015

Figurations 43.indd 8 18-08-15 13:10 sociology of knowledge of Elias. on local, regional, and national physical to schools’ discipline-related problems. cultures. In a second step, the thesis of Over the next decades, however, these Marta Bucholc, A Global Community sport as a ‘pattern of modern universal discussions came to be dominated by of Self-Defense: Norbert Elias on culture’ (Bausinger) is discussed. Deep progressive views, which placed great Normativity, Culture and Involvement structures of anthropologically based value on the individual needs and rights (Frankfurt am Main: Klostermann, categories of (natural) physical cultures of children. This emphasised the nature 2015), 202p. ISBN: 9783465042327. like running, jumping, or throwing are of teaching as a form of emotional differentiated from surface-oriented labour, and it also raised discussion Wittgenstein writes: ‘We can easily structures such as man-made sport. on how teachers could better adapt imagine people amusing themselves The notion of sport as a dominant, themselves to the emotional demands in a fi eld by playing with a ball so but permanently changing form (and of the new democratic school culture. as to start various existing games … content) of modern physical culture is And now someone says: The whole described and explained with respect Bruce Mazlish, Globalization and time they are playing a ball-game and to the work of Allen Guttmann and Transformation (New Brunswick, NJ: following defi nite rules at every throw. Norbert Elias. Transaction Publishers, 2015) 193 pp. And is there not also the case where we ISBN: 9781412856058. play and make up the rules as we go Graham Curry and Eric Dunning, along? And there is even one where we Association Football: A Study in In Globalization and Transformation, alter them – as we go along.’ Figurational Sociology (London: Bruce Mazlish examines developments Routledge, 2015). 214 pp. ISBN: in contemporary warfare, economy, In this book, the author is tackling one 9781138828513. technology, and religion as fundamental of the most salient problems in our factors in human experience that have current debate about globality: How a This book presents a synthesis of the accelerated global change in recent global community is possible. She is work on early football undertaken years. Continuing the analysis he asking: How do we make the rules of by the authors over the past two began in Refl ections on the Modern our games? Where does the normativity decades. It explores aspects of a and the Global, Mazlish delves into of our moral laws, statutory provisions fi gurational approach to sociology human history, examining who we and table manners come from? How do to examine the early development of were so as to help us understand who we strive to keep naked violence at bay football rules in the middle part of we are today. Early in the volume, by allowing power to be vested with the nineteenth century. The book tests Mazlish highlights the British historian the right of correction? Can humanity Dunning’s status rivalry hypothesis Geoffrey Barraclough, who foresaw as a whole become a global community to contest Harvey’s view of football’s the trajectory of world events that gave of self-defence? Marta Bucholc development which stresses an rise to the New Global History. He seeks answers to these questions in infl uential sub-culture outside the also examines humanity’s progress, the writings of Norbert Elias, while public schools. ‘Status rivalry’ re-states reminding us of contemporary watching the players in the fi eld go on. the primacy of these latter institutions globalisation’s precursors: the theories in the growth of football and without it of Charles Darwin; the concept of Michael Krüger, ‘Global perspectives the sport’s story would remain skewed the global and the local coupled with on sports and movement cultures: from and unbalanced for future generations. inquiry into the concept of parts and past to present-modern sports between wholes; merchant empires, such as nationalism, internationalism, and Erkko Anttila and Ari Väänänen, the English and Dutch East India cultural imperialism’, International ‘From authority to fi gure to emotion companies that crisscrossed the Journal of the History of Sport [Special worker: attitudes towards school ocean in pursuit of profi ts and power; Issue (ISHPES) Global Perspectives discipline in Finnish schoolteachers’ anti-globalisation; and the linkage of on Sport and Physical Cultures] 32: 4 journals from 1950s to the 1980s’, globalisation to the very concept of (2015), pp. 518–34. Pedagogy, Culture and Society ahead- humanity. Though globalisation is of-print (2015), pp. 1–20. a complex concept, and versatile in Abstract: The presentation uses the its applications, Mazlish focuses on slogan of the ISHPES-congress Abstract: The article discusses the its transformational characteristics, ‘Global perspectives on sports and change in attitudes towards school noting that globalisation’s impact is movement cultures: from past to discipline in Finnish schoolteachers’ not uniform across society’s culture, present’ in Qatar, by focusing on the professional journals from the late politics, or economics. Some parts development of modern sports which 1950s to the early 1980s. In explaining of the world have yet to accept the involve nationalism, internationalism, this change, the article draws from challenge to their past traditions. These and cultural imperialism. Theoretical the studies of Cas Wouters and Arlie stimulating essays offer new insights considerations on sports history and Hochschild. At the beginning of the into a major phenomenon of our time. universal history form the introduction studied period, the discussions in the to the presentation. Sports have indeed schoolteachers’ professional journals Bernd Bucher, ‘Moving beyond become universal and taken on global were dominated by conservative views, the substantialist foundations of perspectives, but both factors are based which promoted authoritarian solutions the agency–structure dichotomy:

Issue No.43 August 2015 Figurations 9

Figurations 43.indd 9 18-08-15 13:10 figurational thinking in international in Russia in the 2000s, which is psychoanalysis, and Ettinger’s notion relations’, Journal of International consistent with the stable economic of transubjectivity. The article attends Relations and Development (2015). growth (in particular after the financial particularly to the processes involved in DOI:10.1057/jird.2015.12 crisis of 1998) and a stable political the individuality, agentic reflexivity and environment during the presidency affective dimensions of the relational Abstract: While difficulties in of Vladimir Putin. On the other hand, person. theorising agency prevail in other conditions and processes (e.g. constructivist research, the agency– rampant corruption, predatory policing, Adam Katz, ‘An introduction structure dichotomy, which underlies political repression, state violence to disciplinarity’, Anthropoetics these attempts, remains firmly in place. against businesses, rising xenophobia 20:2 (2015). [URL: http:// This article argues that the dichotomy and apathy) point to what Norbert www.anthropoetics.ucla.edu/ itself stands in the ways of formulating Elias terms a ‘decivilising process’, ap2002/2002katz.htm]. non-essentialist notions of agency. which is expected to be associated Engaging the most influential solution with a less precipitous decline in Abstract: In his 1968 Postscript to On to the agency–structure problem, homicide or stable homicide rate in the Process of Civilisation , Norbert this article disaggregates Giddens’s this period. In fact, newly available Elias considers the question of why, structuration theory and demonstrates homicide estimates suggest that the regardless of its theoretical and how substantialist ontology makes homicide rate was higher than and did empirical absurdity, the notion of a essentialisations necessary. It then not decline at a pace suggested by the ‘monadic,’ enclosed ‘self,’ opposed draws on processual-relational official police and mortality sources to, and ontologically separate from, thinking to introduce an alternative in the 2000s. Hence, this article has ‘society,’ became the common sense in starting point for theorising, namely two main objectives. First, it discusses the nineteenth and twentieth-century figurations. Figurations conceptualise problems with homicide statistics West. His answer is that the notion of psychogenesis and sociogenesis in Russia and argues that the newly an autonomous self, one that can be as two inseparable dimensions of available homicide estimates represent abstracted from everyday concerns, and an overarching process and call the more accurate statistics. Second, it counterposed to an ‘objective’ external for explanatory narratives that do explores decivilising process theory as reality, was a necessary concomitant not invoke the notions of agency a potential framework for explaining a to the transformation in subjectivity and structure as if they were two high and steady homicide rate in Russia involved in assimilating the shift from a opposing things. Figurational thinking in the 2000s. human-centred, geocentric world-view upholds constructivist ontological to a more rigorous, heliocentric one. and epistemological assumptions, Sasha Roseneil and Kaisa Ketokivi, This transformation in subjectivity but has far-reaching implications for ‘Relational persons and relational required, according to Elias, an ability conducting empirical research. This processes: developing the notion to transcend immediate impulses and article, therefore, gives an example of of relationality for the sociology of engage in sustained focus according how figurational thinking shifts analysis personal life’, Sociology (2015): DOI to collectively established constraints from a focus on identity to analysing 0038038514561295, pp. 1–17. – a transformation that was part of identifications in foreign relations. the development of ‘manners’ in the Thereby, it moves from theorising Abstract: The concept of relationality Western world, a development that the interaction effects of intrinsic has recently found widespread favour involved the learning and generational regime-type qualities to studying in British sociology, particularly in the transmission of parallel restraints on the processes in which meanings are emergent sub-field of the sociology of exposing bodily functions, sex, and attributed to regime types in the first personal life, which is characterised violence. The implication of Elias’s place. In doing so, it highlights the by its attachment to the concept. argument is that now that the revolution constitutive interdependence of social However, this ‘relational turn’ is under- in science and manners has been entities that are commonly treated as theorised and pays little attention to brought to this point, it is possible to separate things. the substantial history of relational turn our attention to anthropological thinking across the human sciences. inquiry and thereby construct a more Alexandra Lysova and Nikolay This article argues that the notion socially immersed understanding of the Shchitov, ‘What is Russia’s real of relationality in the sociology of self – an understanding that his own homicide rate? Statistical reconstruction personal life might be strengthened by study has set in motion. and the “decivilising process”’, an exploration of the conceptualisation Theoretical Criminology 19: 2 (2015), of the relational person and relational Joseph Maguire, ‘Assessing the pp. 257–77. processes offered by three bodies of sociology of sport: on globalisation and literature: the process-oriented thinking the diffusion of sport’, International Abstract: This article examines a of American pragmatism, specifically of Review for the Sociology of Sport 50: paradox that relates to the issue of Mead and Emirbayer; the figurational 4–5 (2015), pp. 519–23. homicide in Russia. On the one hand, sociology of Elias; and psychoanalysis, official police statistics demonstrate particularly the object relations Abstract: On the 50th anniversary of a rapid decline in the homicide rate tradition, contemporary relational the ISSA and IRSS, a key foundational

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Figurations 43.indd 10 18-08-15 13:10 scholar on the increasing globalisation important thinker you have never heard with criticisms of his own findings, he of sport, Joseph Maguire, considers of”‘, in Alexander Law and Eric Royal always responded, “Then we must do larger questions about the diffusion Lybeck (eds), Sociological Amnesia: more research”. I happen to think that of sport in light of the tendencies of Cross-currents in Disciplinary History his kind of all-encompassing historical globalisation. The essay considers the (Farnham: Ashgate, 2015), pp. social psychology has too much to offer ‘current state of play’ about the ‘known 197–210. in understanding the emerging global dimensions’ of the globalisation of This is the final chapter in a new book society and its problems for it to be sport, commenting on how British that focuses on the regrettable tendency allowed to be forgotten. The long-term and European influences on standards of contemporary sociology to forget processes of the division of social and conventions gave way to North valuable ideas if they are much more functions, civilising processes, habitus American (in particular, US) influences than a decade old, and thus to spend and conscience formation, formalisation on increasing professional norms and much time re-inventing (or relabelling) and informalisation processes, the the embedding of commodification. the wheel. Victims discussed in earlier ‘scientification’ of knowledge, state In considering challenges to the chapters are Raymond Aron, Robert formation, the monopolisation of West and to Western scholars of N. Bellah, Clifford Geertz, Erich violence and of the means of orientation sport and globalisation, the Soviet Fromm, Viola Klein, Olive Schreiner, (and the decay of such monopolies) all bloc’s sustained challenges to Lucien Goldmann, G. D. H. Cole, have a direct relevance to the future of Western dominance are noted, as are Gabriel Tarde, Alasdair MacIntyre and humanity. As Loyal and Quilley have non-Western successes in select sports argued, Elias’s extraordinary powers and recent Chinese success accelerated of synthesis – his unrivalled insight by the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. into the interconnectedness of so many The essay closes by considering five aspects of human society – qualify his priorities in future directions for work to serve as a ‘central theory’ for research on sport and globalisation, the human sciences.’ all stemming from inquiry about continuities and changes in the global Jack Black, ‘It isn’t easy being a sport power elite and the ways in which fading post-imperial power’– British this is both understood and resisted. and Commonwealth national newspaper constructions of Britain during the 2012 Stephen Mennell, ‘Liminality and Diamond Jubilee and London Olympic the frontier myth in the building of Games. Unpublished PhD thesis, American empire’ in A. Horvath, School of Sport, Exercise and Health B. Thomassen and H. Wydra (eds) Sciences, Loughborough University, Breaking Boundaries: Varieties of 2015. Liminality (Oxford: Berghahn Books, 2015). Abstract: This thesis explores the construction, framing and Abstract: In this article, the westward representation of Britain and British expansion of the USA in the nineteenth identity in British and Commonwealth century and the central place often national newspaper coverage of the allotted to the frontier in the American Cornelius Castoriadis. The chapter on 2012 Diamond Jubilee and London national experience are re-examined in Elias comes last because Elias finally Olympic Games. Specifically, national the light of the concept of liminality. escaped: as Mennell writes, ‘Elias newspapers from Australia, Canada, Connections are tentatively drawn came close to being an irretrievable England, New Zealand, Northern between that idea, stemming especially victim of sociological amnesia. … If Ireland, Scotland and Wales were from the work of Arnold van Gennep one looks at the changing contents of examined using a qualitative thematic and Victor Turner, and the famous a distinguished journal like Theory, content analysis. From this sample it ‘frontier thesis’ of another Turner, Culture and Society (of which I am a is argued that when viewed as part of Frederick Jackson Turner. A further long-serving advisor and supporter), a long-term process, the relationship element in the discussion is the idea one sees a procession of changing fads between Britain’s national and imperial of decivilising processes, derived and fashions. They do not always seem histories can be used to explore from the writings of Norbert Elias. In to amount to cumulative additions to contemporary media discourses on conclusion, it is argued that the frontier, knowledge. It sometimes seems as Britain and British identity. Equally, by whether as actual liminal experience or if “social theorists” are hoping that viewing identification processes as part as myth, has had lasting consequences one more shake of the conceptual of complex national and transnational for American habitus and for the USA’s kaleidoscope will settle into a contexts it is possible to examine position in the world. pattern that explains everything. But how the construction, framing and understanding human society involves representation of the nation is shaped Stephen Mennell, ‘Norbert Elias: hard graft, not quick fixes. Elias did and re-shaped in accordance with a sociological amnesia and “the most not offer quick fixes. When faced historical context of power relations.

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Figurations 43.indd 11 18-08-15 13:10 Mieke van Stigt, Alles over Pesten [All in European International Society. In of urban political warfare, Karachi is the about bullying]. Amsterdam: Boom, doing so, this paper seeks to explore cornerstone of the economy of Pakistan. 2014. 176 pp. ISBN 9789089532510 an alternative way for the diffusion of Gayer’s book is an attempt to elucidate norms and institutions of international this conundrum. Against journalistic Bullying is not an inevitable part of society different from those of accounts describing Karachi as chaotic the group process or an inescapable European ‘expansion’ or ‘inclusion’: and ungovernable, he argues that there fact of life, and it doesn’t make you that of ‘mediated expansion’. is indeed order of a kind in the city’s stronger, on the contrary. It causes permanent civil war. Far from being harm in the short and in the long term, Andrew Phillips, ‘Civilising missions entropic, Karachi’s polity is predicated and it doesn’t only affect the victim and the rise of international hierarchies upon organisational, interpretative of bullying in a negative way, but also in early modern Asia’, Millennium 42:3 and pragmatic routines that have the bully and all the others involved (2014), pp. 697–717. made violence ‘manageable’ for its in the group. Bullying is the product populations. Whether such ‘ordered of a negative group process and a lack Abstract: When IR scholars examine disorder’ is viable in the long term of positive leadership and very often ‘standards of civilisation’, they remains to be seen, but for now Karachi – in the case of school bullying – an typically privilege the Western works despite – and sometimes through outcome or by-product of our social civilisational standard that structured – violence. organisation(s). In this book, Mieke international society during the colonial van Stigt investigates sociological, era. Conversely, this article compares BIBLIOGRAPHICAL psychological, philosophical, biological the ‘civilising missions’ of non-Western RETROSPECT as well as individual and group aspects empires in the early modern period of bullying in her search of causes and in Mughal India and Qing China. As Vertigans, Stephen, ‘British Muslims solutions for bullying. She connects foreign conquerors ruling huge and and the UK Government’s “War on individual experiences (from many diverse empires, Mughals and Manchus Terror” within: Evidence of a clash of testimonies) with theoretical insights faced common problems legitimating civilisations or emergent de-civilising and forges them into a complete, or their dominance over indigenous processes?’, British near complete, view on the social majorities that vastly outnumbered Journal of Sociology, 61: 1 (2010), pp. phenomenon of bullying. This book them. In both cases, they formulated 26–44. is written for parents, teachers and elaborate civilising missions to justify everyone who works with groups in their rule, recruit collaborators and Abstract: In the immediate aftermath education, sports, labour or institutions. sustain the hierarchical international of the September 2001 attacks on orders that formed around their America, defending civilisation was Filippo Costa Buranelli, ‘Knockin’ on empires. In foregrounding these quickly established at the core of heaven’s door: Russia, Central Asia and parallels, this article helps us to better the ‘war on terror’. Unintentionally the mediated expansion of international understand how hierarchies form or otherwise this incorporation of society’, Millennium 42: 3 (2014), pp. in international politics, while also civilisation connected with Samuel 817–36. illuminating the specific role civilising Huntington’s ‘Clash of Civilisations’ missions and processes played in thesis. Within the ‘war on terror’ the Abstract: Within the English School of constituting international hierarchies in dark side of counterterrorism has International Relations the expansion non-Western settings. become apparent through international of European International Society has practices like extrajudicial killing, always been regarded as an essentially Laurent Gayer, Karachi: Ordered extraordinary rendition and torture. European, western enterprise. However, Disorder and the Struggle for the City The impact of Western governments’ the role that the Russian Empire (London: C. Hurst, 2014), 256 pp. policies upon their indigenous Muslim played in expanding the institutions of ISBN: 9781849043113. populations has also been problematic international society into Central Asia but social and political analysis has been remains quite neglected. By analysing With an official population approaching relatively limited. This paper seeks to primary sources and contemporary fifteen million, Karachi is one of the help address the scarcity of sociological discourses about Russia’s civilisational largest cities in the world. It is also the contributions. Hidden costs of the status in the nineteenth century, this most violent. Since the mid- 1980s, it UK government’s attempts to utilise paper discusses the penetration of the has endured endemic political conflict violence and enhance social constraints Russian Empire in Central Asia in a and criminal violence, which revolve within the nation-state are identified. It socio-historical perspective, and argues around control of the city and its is argued that although counterterrorism that in the process of the expansion resources (votes, land and bhatta – strategies are contributing to a Russia’s Asiatic past weakened its ‘protection’ money). These struggles self-fulfilling spiral of hatred that could status as a European power, and the for the city have become ethnicised. be considered evidence in support of value of its colonial enterprise. Using Karachi, often referred to as a ‘Pakistan the ‘Clash of Civilisations’, the thesis English School categories, this paper in miniature,’ has become increasingly is unhelpful when trying to grasp the considers Russia as ‘a periphery in the fragmented, socially as well as underlying processes. Instead the paper centre’, and as a ‘less civilised civiliser’ territorially. Despite this chronic state draws upon Norbert Elias’s application

12 Figurations Issue No.43 August 2015

Figurations 43.indd 12 18-08-15 13:10 of the concepts of ‘civilising’ and Other articles by the author: the work of Steven Pinker and Norbert ‘decivilising’ to help improve levels ‘Gentlemen in competition: athletics Elias, and has work in press on Norbert of understanding about the processes and masculinities in nineteenth century Elias and Erving Goffman, in The and consequences of particular Hungary’, The International Journal of Palgrave Handbook of Social Theory Muslim communities being targeted by the History of Sport 24:4 (April, 2007), in Health, Illness and Medicine [see security forces. The paper concludes pp. 480–500. abstract in this issue of Figurations with an exploration of the majority above]. of the population’s acquiescence and ‘Gymnastic exercises, or ‘work willingness to accept restraints upon wrapped in the gown of youthful joy’: He was recognised by his peers for Muslims in order to safeguard their masculinities and the civilising process contributions to social theory including own security. in the eighteenth century Hungary’, his analyses of the effects of hierarchy Journal of Social History (Fall 2007). on mind–bodies, especially in relation Andrei P. Tsygankov, ‘Self and to their spatial mobility and their use of Other in international relations theory: OBITUARY technology. His guiding interest in his learning from Russian civilizational work was, in his words, ‘to humanise debates’, International Studies Review Peter E.S. Freund, social differences’. He also wrote 10: 4 (2008), pp. 762–75 1940–2014 chapters in edited collections, including one on ‘Driving lessons: exploring Debates about ‘civilisation’ have been Peter Freund, Emeritus Professor systems that make traffic safer and taking place in Russia, especially of Sociology at Montclair State emotions in social life’. since the collapse of the USSR but, University, born in New York City, as in this case, they do not always died June 12 at age 73 after a struggle His teaching, thinking, and work had involve any reference at all to the with pancreatic and liver cancer. Here longstanding reverberations in the lives work of Elias. In his abstract, the we reprint excerpts from the obituary of students and colleagues. Students author (who writes from an American written by his colleagues Miriam contacted him years later to share how university) writes: ‘To research both Fisher and George Martin in the ASA his teaching changed their thinking and continuity and progression of Russian Footnotes 42: 7 (2014): perspectives, sometimes career choices. arguments, I draw cases from imperial Colleague and friend, David Neal, and post-Soviet historical periods and Peter got his PhD at the New School University of Hertfordshire, with whom analyse their debates – Eurocentrism for Social Research, 1969; his MA he taught in the United Kingdom, and Eurasia – in terms of assumptions at Queens College, 1966; and his wrote, ‘Without meaning to, over the their participants held about interacting BA at the University of Maryland, years, Peter taught me a great deal. This with the Other. 1962. He studied at Wolfgang von is a good legacy to leave me because Goethe Universität, Frankfurt, 1962 I find myself drawing upon it week on Miklós Hadas, ‘The rationalisation and Ludwig-Maximilian Universität, week’. of the body: physical education in Munich, 1959. He was fluent in Hungary in the nineteenth century’, German, used original German sources History of Education 38:1 (January in his research; had some facility in CALL FOR PAPERS: 2009), pp. 61-77. Czech. NORBERT ELIAS AND VIOLENCE Abstract: This article highlights Peter was a sociologist, scholar, how turnen, the modernised form of and thoughtful analyst and critic of Edited by Tatiana S. Landini earlier gymnastic exercises, emerged environmental issues, such as the (Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, in Hungary in the second part of the social and health consequences of Brazil) and Francois Dépelteau nineteenth century. It is argued that car-dominated transportation and (Laurentian University, Canada); to be although the advocates of the turnen spatial organisation; health inequalities published by Palgrave Macmillan movement are gradually squeezed from and disability; and the impact of the spheres of modern competitive systems of social control on human In 2013 and 2014, we launched the sports, their strategies of expansion are bodies and hence on health and illness. books Norbert Elias and Social Theory successful: earlier gymnastic exercises and Norbert Elias and Empirical turn into compulsory turnen lessons in He authored/co-authored three books Research. In the first one, we published state schools. Due to the success of the and numerous articles on these texts comparing Norbert Elias with movement, an intricate web of forces topics. These include The Civilised many important authors (Epicurus, emerges, i.e. the field of turnen is born. Body (1982); Health, Illness and the Freud, Marx, Weber, Durkheim, As part of the expansion of modernity Social Body, with M. McGuire and Simmel, Mannheim, From, Arendt, the obedient, disciplined, adaptable, L. Podhurst (2003, 4th ed.); and The Bauman and Bourdieu) and, in the publicly displayed rational young body Ecology of the Automobile, with G. second one, many important topics becomes the precondition of a planned Martin (1993). He was writing on were analysed by using Elias´s future. violence and civilization at the time framework (such as literature, capital of his death, with critical attention to punishment, prisons, sexual violence,

Issue No.43 August 2015 Figurations 13

Figurations 43.indd 13 18-08-15 13:10 life and death, court, State Formation, Deadline for receiving the texts: 21 of body. All of these issues are major relations between the sexes and sports). September 2015. Please submit your and integral aspects of the Eliasian text by email (in Word) to: Tatiana oeuvre. In this new book we aim to focus on S. Landini ([email protected]) and an important issue on Elias’s oeuvre: François Dépelteau (fdepelteau@ Prepare the event adequately! violence. The topic of violence laurentian.ca) The presentations on these unpublished permeates most of his books, with manuscripts had been circulated in more or less emphases. Nevertheless, advance in due time, enabling the this topic is also very controversial in RECENT CONFERENCES discussants to do their best. And they his writings. For his critics, Elias did did. not give enough attention to an issue Sports, Leisure and Culture that plays such an important role on in the Works of Norbert Make a good organisational script for modern societies and its formation. By Elias: Connecting with the event! focusing on pacification as an important Unpublished Material While the presenters (who were at direction of the civilising process, Elias the same time the organisers of the would have missed key aspects of this Regionalzentrum Frankfurt der workshop) mainly belonged to the same civilizing process, such as violent FernUniversität Hagen, Frankfurt am younger generation, the discussants processes of colonization, development Main, 9–10 April 2015 (Hermann Korte, Helmut Kuzmics, of mass murder weapons to be used in Dominic Malcolm, Stephen Mennell, wars between and within states, and so There are two limiting cases of James Sharpe) were prestigious on. Readers sympathetic to his work, scientific meetings: on the one extreme members of the international scientific on the other hand, reinforce the key those conferences can be found that, community. role played by violence during State starting with prestigious keynote formation processes, the possibility speakers’ talks, crowd as many people Devote enough time for discussions! of decivilising processes or spurts, as possible, put them in parallel The sessions lasted for one and a half change in the balance between external sessions, in which there is practically our (20-20 minutes for presentations constrain towards self-constraint, etc. no or little chance of having relevant and comments, plus 50 minutes for scientific interactions because of the open debate). This time-structure served Violence is not presented in any strict time-limits. At the other extreme, ideally the aims of the workshop. definitive way in Elias’s books, we find those events that, while thus opening the door to many limiting the number of participants, Find adequate venue(s)! interpretations and debates. State offer adequate time for the exchange In this respect Frankfurt am Main and formation, directions of civilizing of ideas, and the invited prestigious the Regionalzentrum Frankfurt der processes, decivilising processes, experts are not expected to produce FernUniversität Hagen were excellent pacification, spurts of violence, war and cathedra-speeches but to take active choices. aggression as a human condition, etc., part in discussions. Undoubtedly, this are all topics related to violence that workshop was much closer to the Organise interesting additional public Elias discusses in his many books and second ideal type. It would even be said event(s)! that still need to be more debated and that the organisers (Jan Haut, Paddy The informal dinner at an clarified. Dolan, Dieter Reicher, Raúl Sánchez Apfelweinwirtschaft was more than García, Adrian Jitschin) managed to perfect – both intellectually and We welcome texts that analyse any put together an event that might be gastronomically. of the above topics, or others related considered as a kind of recipe sample to violence on Elias´s oeuvre. We for scientific meetings. Although at this moment I am not also welcome texts that used Elias´s aware what will be the outcome of framework to discuss any kind of What are the main elements of this the workshop (whether some of the violence or national situation in our recipe? manuscripts will be published or contemporary world. As Elias used to not, and if so, when and where?), I state, theory and empirical research Identify a real stake! wish for all of us to be lucky enough cannot be separated. Our final goal is to This event has an ambitious stake, to participate in several scientific present texts that bring interesting light indeed, namely to decide whether the events that are as interesting and on the topic of violence through Elias´s presented texts of Norbert Elias are well-organised as this one in Frankfurt. eyes. worth to be published or not. Miklós Hadas We will welcome contributions from Concentrate on a well-defined topic! Institute of Sociology all the disciplines. Texts should written The unpublished manuscripts were Corvinus University of Budapest in English and be limited to 20 pages put into four interrelated sessions: on (Times New Roman 12, double space), sport in the 19th century; on boxing including bibliography. and duelling; on ‘spontaneity and self-consciousness’, and on sociology

14 Figurations Issue No.43 August 2015

Figurations 43.indd 14 18-08-15 13:10 LECTURE SERIES: FORTHCOMING provide assistance, participants will be GESELLSCHAFTSPROZESSE CONFERENCES expected to cover their own travel and UND INDIVIDUELLE PRAXIS accommodation costs. Figuring Organisations: Everyone is welcome. If you are Öffentliche Vorlesungsreihe zur People and Processes interested in attending the conference Erinnerung an Norbert Elias’s and/or wish to give a paper please email Gastprofessur an der WWU vor 50 Dublin City University, 26 November [email protected], not later Jahren 2015 than 1 October. John Connolly and Paddy Dolan will 20. Oktober 2015 Eröffnung mit Prof. host a one-day symposium entitled Changing power relations and the Dr. Johan Goudsblom (Amsterdam) und ‘Figuring Organisations: People and drag effects of habitus: theoretical and Prof. Dr Hermann Korte (Münster): Processes’ at Dublin City University on empirical approaches in the twenty-first Zurück an einer deutschen Universität: 26 November 2015. The symposium century Norbert Elias’s Münsteraner will examine different aspects of Institute of Sociology, Westphalian Gastprofessur im WS 1965–66 organisations and organising from an Wilhelms-University is organising a Eliasian perspective. conference in Münster, Germany, on 3. November 2015 Von der Eltern- zur 8–10 September 2016. Kindzentrierung: Elternschaft in einer Confirmed participants include Stephen Gesellschaft der Individuen, Dr Désirée Vertigans, Ad van Iterson, John Lever Orientation of the conference Waterstradt (München) and Stephen Mennell. Further details of the programme and speakers will Sociologists study social processes that 17. November 2015 Gruppencharisma be posted on the Elias blog later in the unfold through space and time, but also und Gruppenschande: Norbert Elias summer. through the experience of people who und Max Weber im Vergleich, Dr Erik are caught up in those processes. Social Jentges (Zürich) Al welcome: contact John Connolly at scientific theories and explanations [email protected]. must therefore always incorporate the 1. Dezember 2015 Das ‘elektronische dimension of experience; they are, so to Versailles’: Zur Zivilisierung Social character and speak, theories in five dimensions. internationaler Beziehungen durch den historical processes: a Mediensport, Prof. Dr Dieter Reicher conference in honour of The concepts of power and habitus (Graz) Stephen Mennell are pivotal in understanding social processes. Wherever people are 15. Dezember 2015 Islamismus University College Dublin, 7–8 January interdependent with each other – als globale Herausforderung: Eine 2016 whenever they have needs that only prozeßsoziologische Perspektive, Prof. transactions with others can meet Dr Dawud Gholamasad (Hannover) On 7–8 January 2016, the School of – there are power balances or ratios, Sociology, UCD, will hold a conference which may be stable or fluctuating, 19. Januar 2016 Individualität to honour the major contribution that relatively equal or unequal. The needs und Zeitlichkeit: Autobiograik als Stephen Mennell has made to the that people have of each other range Menschenwissenschaft. Prof. Dr Birgit discipline of sociology. Stephen who from the material, through information Nübel (Hannover) is now Emeritus, was a Professor at or means of orientation, to the UCD from 1993 to 2009 and during emotional. 26. Januar 2016 Neue those 16 years made a remarkable Machtverhältnisse im contribution to the academic and social As for habitus, people’s ‘second Einwanderungsland Deutschland life of the School. More recently he has nature’ – their cultural dispositions Etablierte und Außenseiter revisited, spent almost a decade overseeing the and personality traits – is shaped Prof. Dr. Annette Treibel (Karlsruhe) publication of Norbert Elias’s Collected through their life experience, including Works. their experience of power balances. 2. Februar 2016 Wie zivilisiert sind wir? Habitus formation and conscience Mentalität und Nationalcharakter in This conference aims to recognise and formation – and transformation – are der Geschichte, Dr. Reinhard Blomert reflect on his important work, which central components of social change, (Berlin) includes numerous books and articles. but they then feed back into the course In line with his prodigious output, of the processes that formed them. 16. Februar 2016 Norbert Elias Die the conference, as well as including People’s habitus, formed gradually in Ballade vom armen Jakob sessions on all aspects of the work of the past, may prove an impediment Elias, will have panels on America and to contemporary social changes, but on food and eating. on the other hand may adapt well and indeed facilitate change: there are It is hoped that there will be no leads and lags and drag effects These conference fee. And while we will questions are central to sociological

Issue No.43 August 2015 Figurations 15

Figurations 43.indd 15 18-08-15 13:10 theory and to this conference: our problems, and therefore a topic Prof. Dr. Christoph Weischer concerns extend from the past to the for sociological refl ection. How Institut für Soziologie present to possible futures. can sociological conceptualisation Universität Münster contribute to a reality-congruent kind [email protected] Call for papers of understanding and explanation You are invited to submit abstracts of the ongoing controversies on Dr. Damir Softic relating to the suggested panels environmental issues? How do the Institut für Soziologie below. Proposals for new panels people involved as decision makers Universität Münster with a theoretical–empirical focus as well as ordinary citizens estimate [email protected] on contemporary issues will also be the dangers that could arise from these welcome. developments? What are the long-term dynamics of these developments? CONTRIBUTIONS TO Methodological and FIGURATIONS theoretical approaches Social conflicts, wars, Here the focus of attention will immigration and The next issue of Figurations will be mailed be on theoretical, empirical and democratisation in January 2016. News and notes should be methodological approaches to the In this panel, by looking at various sent by 15 November 2015 to the Editors at study of the dynamics, directions case studies, we will demonstrate how fi [email protected]. and structures of processes of social confl icts, tensions and wars Editor: Stephen Mennell transformation, and on how the arise and develop. The question of Editorial Address: School of Sociology, self-perceptions and self-experiences of how people thus affected experience University College Dublin, Belfi eld, Dublin 4, the people involved in such processes these developments, themselves and Ireland. can be incorporated into sociological their perceived opponents plays an Tel. +353-1-295 0276; Fax: +353-1-716 1125. theories. important role as well. We also want to deal with the issues of immigration Associate Editor: Dr Katie Liston, School Work, unemployment and lifestyle and integration which have increased, of Sports Studies, University of Ulster, In the past few decades, the living especially in the course of economic Newtownabbey, County Antrim, Northern Ireland BT37 0QB. Phone: +44 28 90368539; and working conditions of people globalisation and emerging new Fax: +44 28 9036 6028. have undergone enormous changes in technologies. differently structured societies. Through Managing Editor (Dublin): Barbara new waves of economic globalisation, Global, national and local Górnicka (UCD). Email: fi gurations@ technologisation and individualisation, identities norberteliasfoundation.nl traditional ways of organising life and In the course of economic globalisation work have lost their importance. The in recent decades, the topic ‘identity’ Honorary Assistant Editors: Florence Delmotte, study of the structures and directions of has attracted major attention in social Brussels (French); Tabea Dörfelt-Mathey these processes, on the one hand, and sciences. In this session, we ask what (Jena), Heike Hammer, Stuttgart (German); Tatiana Savoia Landini, São Paulo (Spanish and the study of self-experiences of people kind of reality the term ‘identity’ Portuguese, Latin America). affected by these rapid transformations, symbolically represents and how this on the other hand, will be the main reality can be empirically grasped, Contributions should preferably be e-mailed focus of this panel. on the basis of case studies from to the Editor in the form of MS Word (.doc or differently structured societies. At the .docx), Rich Text (.rtf), plain text (.txt) or Open Education, economy and level of self-experience of the people Offi ce Text (.odt) fi les. Do not use embedded social inequalities affected, we will look at how the footnotes. Hard copy is accepted reluctantly. In recent decades we have also people in different societies experience Photographs should be submitted in JPEG been able to observe processes of processes of transformation in their format. transformation in the fi elds of education identities: for instance, what does it © 2015, Norbert Elias Stichting, and the economy, generally involving mean to use concepts like ‘crisis of J.J. Viottastraat 13, 1071 JM Amsterdam, new patterns of equality and inequality. identity’ or ‘European identity’? Netherlands. This panel will deal with dynamics, directions and structures of these Organisers Graphic Design and Desktop Publishing: processes, and with the self-experience Annette van de Sluis. Printed by MultiCopy, of people affected. Both dimensions Prof. Dr. Stefanie Ernst Weesperstraat 65, Amsterdam, Netherlands. should also be considered in different Institut für Soziologie examples of social inequalities. Universität Münster Figurations is distributed free of charge on request to researchers, institutes or libraries. [email protected] To be added to the mailing list, please write to Environment the Secretary, A major problem facing all human Dr. Behrouz Alikhani Norbert Elias Stichting, societies today is environmental Institut für Soziologie J. J. Viottastraat 13, deterioration and climate change. Universität Münster 1071 JM Amsterdam, Netherlands Environmental problems are social [email protected] (email: [email protected])

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