26

Newsletter of the Norbert Elias Foundation

EDITORS’ NOTES

• Richard Kilminster reports marking a student essay in which it was stated that against the model of ‘homo clausus’ Elias counterposed a model of ‘homines aperatif’ [sic]. We know from conferences that figurationists like a drink, but …

• Norman Rosenthal, Exhibitions Secretary at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, the , on 11 July 2007, and in his response he recalled that: ‘Leicester in some ways was where my life started, in all sorts of ways. I had incredible teaching here. Not only in the History Department, though that was the subject that I read … There were extraordinary people here and in the Department, Ilya Neustadt and the legendary Norbert Elias, whom some of you will know, was also teaching here. It’s very little known that this man who is now a legend all over the world – in the United States, in Germany, in France – as a refugee spent his life here and wrote many of his books here. Leicester was in a certain sense a great intellectual centre, very much through him, and through many other people who were there.’ We believe that Norman assisted Elias in mounting the exhibition of his collection of African art at the Leicester City Art Gallery in 1970.

• Readers’ attention is drawn to the calls for papers for two important conferences in the autumn of 2007, one in Marbach marking the completion of the publication of the Elias Gesammelte Schriften by Suhrkamp, and the other in Frankfurt on Elias and American Studies.

FROM THE NORBERT writings that he has edited. Sadly, Peter authors from other continents. ELIAS FOUNDATION died just before he was able to see a The Prize is awarded ‘in commemora- finished copy of the book. An obituary tion of the sociologist Norbert Elias Peter Rudolf Gleichmann, will appear in Figurations 27. (1897–1990), whose writings, at once 1932–2006 theoretical and empirical, boldly crossed disciplinary boundaries in the We are sad to report the death of Peter Fifth Norbert Elias Prize social sciences to develop a long-term Gleichmann, Professor of Sociology perspective on the patterns of interde- at the University of Hannover, one of The fifth Norbert Elias Prize will be pendence which human beings weave the principal advocates in Germany of awarded in 2007. The Prize consists in together’. This does not mean, however, the ideas of Norbert Elias and one of a sum of €1,000 and it will be awarded that the prize-winning book will neces- the editors – along with Johan Gouds- to the author of a significant first major sarily be directly inspired by Elias’s blom and Hermann Korte – of Human book published between 1 January own work. Figurations, the Festschrift that marked 2005 and 31 December 2006. Elias’s eightieth birthday in 1977. The Previous winners of the Elias Prize news reached us just as this issue of In previous years, the Prize has been have been: Figurations was being compiled. Hans- reserved for European authors. On this 1999 David Lepoutre, Coeur de ban- Peter Waldhoff had already contributed occasion, the Board of the Elias Foun- lieue: Codes, rites et langages (: a note about the volume of Peter’s dation has decided to open the prize to Odile Jacob, 1997)

Issue No.26 December 2006 Figurations 1 2001 Wilbert van Vree, Meetings, Man- 2007, wrote the following ‘Thema State- lating to the point where global warm- ners and Civilisation (London: Univer- ment’ for her year of office, and we ing may be irreversible. In Iraq, a con- sity of Leicester Press, 1999) thought it would be of interest to (and tinuing war tightly inter-braided with cheering for) readers of Figurations. US domestic politics brings more dead 2003 Nikola Tietze, Islamische Iden- and wounded Americans, many more titäten: Formen muslimischer Religi- Intellectuals in the West have long uncounted dead and wounded Iraqis, osität junger Männer in Deutschland believed that progress was inevitable, and threatens widening instability in und Frankreich (Hamburg: Hamburger while having vastly different ideas the Middle East. The US is alleged to Edition, 2001) about how and why progress would be the most powerful nation in world occur. Whether their confidence was in history; its military and economic 2005 Jason Hughes, Learning to Smoke: revolution or parliaments or technology, footprints determine the life chances Tobacco Use in the West (Chicago: Uni- it was generally assumed that socie- of people everywhere. Tragically, that versity of Chicago Press, 2003) ties would become more just and more great power can and does produce poli- prosperous, and that this prosperity cies that violate axiomatic sociological For the 2007 prize, the jury will consist would be more widely shared. No more. knowledge about social cohesion and of three previous winners of the prize, Alarming trends are unfolding in the stability’. under the chairmanship of Wilbert van twenty-first century that threaten confi- Vree, with Stephen Mennell represent- dence in a better future, or even in any What are the prospects for understand- ing the Board of the Elias Foundation. future at all. ing, and reversing, these trends? How can sociologists, whose intellectual mis- Nominations for the prize should be Sociology emerged in the nineteenth sion it is to understand the connections sent to Saskia Visser, Secretary to the century, as the very idea of society between everyday life and large social Norbert Elias Foundation, J.J. Viot- came into focus by thinkers attempting forces, and to communicate that under- tastraat 13, 1071 JM Amsterdan, The to understand the wrenching changes standing to wider publics, contribute to , by 31 March 2007. that accompanied industrialisation and the strengthening of democratic forces urbanisation. These changes, and the on which the prospects for a better For books in languages other than Eng- large scale but also intimate miseries future depend? lish, French and German, please supply that often came in their wake, illu- a brief outline of the nominated book. minated the importance of big social Frances Fox Piven processes and the big institutional City University of New York Graduate structures that gave rise to them. They Centre Elias-I Email Discussion List also directed attention to the ‘social question’, the new patterns of inequal- Kitty Roukens, moderator of the Elias-I ity, hardship and disorganisation that CIVILISING OFFENSIVE BY discussion list has a new email address: society was creating. The penetrating CHINESE GOVERNMENT [email protected]. Although SISWO has insights of Durkheim and Marx, Weber now been wound up, Kitty can still be and Simmel, as well as the path-break- Andrew Linklater drew our attention to reached (Mondays to Thursdays) at its ing empirical work of the early Ameri- the following article by Richard Spen- old address, Plantage Muidergracht 4, can sociologists who focused on social cer that appeared in the London Daily 1018 TV , problems, reflected their immersion in Telegraph on 2 September 2006. It tel. +31-20-527 0620. the life of their societies, and their com- reminded me of having seen an article mitment to reducing the human suffer- in The Straits Times back in 1993 about To subscribe to the list, simply send an ing that societies can cause. Their work the Singapore government’s campaign email to: [email protected]. provided conceptual tools and data that to persuade its citizens to smile more. NL with the command: SUBSCRIBE contributed to the reform currents of There could be a good PhD thesis on ELIAS-I in the subject line. their societies. official civilising offensives in develop- ing countries – SJM. For further details of the list, see: ‘We live in tumultuous times again. http://www.lsoft.com/scripts/ In the United States, inequalities of Beijing drive to improve wl.exe?SL1=ELIAS-I&H=NIC.SURF- income and wealth are increasing while manners for Olympics NET.NL. our electoral system is degraded by A revolution in social etiquette is money corruption, spectacle and propa- sweeping Beijing as the Communist ganda. The numbers of poor are grow- Party seeks to prepare the capital city IS ANOTHER WORLD POS- ing and their poverty deepening, while for the 2008 Olympic Games. SIBLE? SOCIOLOGICAL PER- the public programs that once mitigated SPECTIVES ON CONTEMPO- economic hardship are shrinking. What In a series of bossy initiatives, from RARY POLITICS happens within the US is of conse- forcing people to queue politely at bus quence to Americans and the world. stops to stopping concertgoers from Frances Fox Piven, President of the Pollution and environmental destruction using their mobile phones, the authori- American Sociological Association from unregulated production are esca- ties are attempting to bring about a

2 Figurations Issue No.26 December 2006 major shift in the way the Chinese been taught just stood for getting rich world with their hands and feet chained behave in public. quickly. together by invisible ties. No one is in Evidence of the campaign can be seen As well as presenting a more attrac- charge. No one stands outside. Some at every bus stop. tive face to the world, the party hopes want to go this way, others that. They people will find in a more refined, self- fall upon each other and, vanquishing ‘Everything needs to get better’, denying Confucianism a conformist or defeated, still remain chained to each said Shen Zengde, 60, as he watched ideology to replace the largely aban- other. No one can regulate the move- over the rush-hour queue waiting for doned Marxism of Chairman Mao. ments of the whole unless a great part the number 117 on Dongzhimenwai of them are able to understand – to see, Avenue. as it were, from outside – the whole REFLECTIONS ON EDIT- patterns they form together. And they Mr Shen is one of 2,500 people ING ELIAS’S ENGLISH are not able to visualise themselves as recruited by city officials in Beijing this part of these larger patterns because, year as ‘Supervisors of Riding Politely’, When Elias wrote in German, his mean- being hemmed in and moved uncom- as their orange T-shirts say in both Chi- ing was always absolutely clear. The prehendingly hither and thither in ways nese and English. task of the translator and editor is there- which none of them intended, they fore to render the meaning into English, cannot help being preoccupied with the Bus stop grannies are just one front of and they have some latitude in striving urgent, narrow and parochial problems the battle. Last month, travel agencies for a clear and stylish English. That is which each of them has to face. were issued with guidelines on how simple in principle, although often very their customers should behave when difficult to achieve in practice. But other passages are occasionally abroad. less clear, especially in his later writ- When he wrote in English, however, ings. The earliest typescripts from ‘The behaviour of some Chinese travel- more complex problems arise. Steve which Involvement and Detachment lers is not compatible with the nation’s Quilley, Steve Loyal and I have just are derived, and the earlier sections of economic strength and its growing been involved in editing the new edi- Time, were almost certainly typed by international status’, said a circular tions for the Collected Works of two Elias himself. His preferred method of from the Spiritual Civilisation Steering books, Involvement and Detachment composition in the last part of his life, Committee, which is overseeing the and An Essay on Time, which originate however, was to dictate to an assistant. campaign. almost entirely from texts that Elias There is little doubt that his prose was wrote in English. This has raised diffi- clumsier when produced in these more Among the flaws it highlighted were culties of editorial policy for the whole difficult circumstances. As his sight spitting, clearing the throat loudly, and series, and caused the three editors and began to fail, he was less able to do squatting while smoking. the members of the Editorial Advi- detailed editing work himself. He often sory Board some anguish. We finally sent draft typescripts to native English- ‘Some of our customers make a lot decided that, following Keith Thomas’s speaking friends such as Eric Dunning, of noise in restaurants when diners advice to the effect that (within reason!) Richard Kilminster and me. One exam- from other countries are eating quietly ‘You can do what you like, so long as ple is a typescript of ‘The fishermen around them, and don’t use public bath- you make clear what you have done’, in the Maelström’ that he sent me in rooms properly’, said Song Miaohong, we would where necessary correct Eli- 1981, of which I still have a photocopy of the China Youth Travel Service. as’s English, but give his original word- showing the amendments I suggested to ing in an appendix at the back of each Elias. Most of them, however, failed to Etiquette is one of China’s most confus- volume. find their way into the text when it was ing aspects for visitors. There is great published in 1987. There is little reason formality on public occasions, yet many Elias could on occasion write power- to suppose that Elias actually rejected foreigners are shocked by common ful and elegant English. One of my them; rather, he was always eager to be aspects of street life such as ignoring own favourites is from ‘Problems of writing the next piece of work, and was queues. Involvement and Detachment’, first reluctant to spend time on the increas- published in the British Journal of Soci- ingly difficult tasks of collating amend- In part, this goes back to the Cultural ology, 1956: ments and detailed editing. Revolution, when etiquette was con- demned as bourgeois. But attitudes More and more groups, and with them It is often evident that his word order, are changing as China turns outwards more and more individuals, tend to punctuation and sentence construction again. become dependent on each other for are strongly influenced by his native their security and the satisfaction of German. For example, he will often The manners initiatives are also part of their needs in ways which, for the repeat prepositions, along the lines of a wider, more ideological campaign by greater part, surpass the comprehen- ‘Of the X, and of the Y, and of the Z’, the government to foster ‘a harmonious sion of those involved. It is as if first where a native speaker would just say, society’ in the wake of China’s rapid thousands, then millions, then more ‘Of the X, Y and Z’. What is going on embrace of capitalism, which many had and more millions walked through this there, I think, is that Elias is seeking an

Issue No.26 December 2006 Figurations 3 English equivalent of the inflections sages. Besides correcting typographical with the editors in congratulating Eric denoting the genitive case in German. and minor grammatical errors, small on this honour. Indeed, readers will be (It may be observed that case inflec- changes have been made silently to interested to note the involvement of tions help to make clear, in German, punctuation and word order, provided distinguished academics in this Fest- sentences of a complexity that cannot that such changes in no way altered the schrift from around the world, not all easily be handled in English.) These sense of the text. We have also very of whom share the same commitment quirks help to make Elias’s English occasionally inserted words or phrases to the application of figurational ideas prose less easy to read than it should be. in square brackets to clarify the mean- as does Eric. This is itself an indication ing. In a small number of instances, of the contribution that Dunning has ‘One’ was another of Elias’s stylistic indicated by a superscript letter in made to the establishment of the sociol- idiosyncrasies. In a typical turn of the text, where it seemed necessary ogy of sport as a sub-discipline, and phrase, Elias writes ‘That which one to make somewhat more thoroughgo- figurational sociology as a particularly today conceptualises and experiences ing amendments in order to make the influential theoretical framework within as “time” is just that: a means of ori- text intelligible, the original published the sociological study of sport, though entation.’ This construction clearly wording is given in the Textual Variants as the editors rightly suggest, ‘Dun- reflects the use of man in German appendix. In making such changes, we ning’s own contribution has perhaps (like on in French) as an alternative to have sometimes consulted the original been overshadowed because of the ten- the passive voice; in English it would typescripts or had resort to the German dency within the sub-discipline to sub- sound more normal to say ‘What is translation to clarify the meaning. In sume the work of Dunning under the today conceptualised …’. The problem general, though, our assumption is that umbrella of Norbert Elias’s theoretical is that in English ‘one’ can be ambigu- what appeared in print is the definitive contribution’ (p. 507). The Festschrift ous; it can be the royal ‘one’, meaning version. is an important and timely attempt to ‘I’, or it can be the collective ‘one’, redress this imbalance. meaning people in general. This usage Stephen Mennell is so characteristic of Elias, however, If you are wondering why you have that in the Collected Works we have not heard about this publication it is not sought to change this aspect of his FESTSCHRIFT FOR ERIC most likely the result of the editors’ style, except occasionally when it is DUNNING and contributors’ attempts to keep the seriously ambiguous – to make clear special issue ‘under wraps’ as it were in that Elias is not referring to himself, but Ivan Waddington and Dominic Mal- the germination stage. This attempt was rather to other people. colm (eds) Matters of Sport: Essays in relatively successful (though I should Honour of Eric Dunning, special issue point out that the editor of this news- He also frequently contrasts ‘the of Sport in Society 9 (4) 2006. letter – one Professor Mennell – did former’ and ‘the latter’, of which copy- reveal, inadvertently, his involvement editors disapprove because it is so often Readers of Figurations will be in the project to Eric prior to its com- unclear what is ‘the former’ and what delighted to learn of the publication pletion, much to the chagrin of Wad- ‘the latter’. Where that problem arises, of a Festschrift, a special issue of the dington and Malcolm). However, those we have clarified it. journal Sport in Society dedicated to a involved in the special issue were suc- series of essays in recognition of Eric cessful in arranging a surprise dinner in It might have been expected that ear- Dunning’s work in the sociology of the Taj Mahal in Leicester on 14 Octo- lier publishers of Elias’s books and sport. It includes contributions from: ber 2006 at which Eric was presented journal articles would have carefully Stephen Mennell, Allen Guttmann, with a copy of the Festschrift. While copy-edited the texts and referred back Patrick Murphy and Ken Sheard, Ric suggested changes to the author for his Gruneau, Alan Bairner, Joe Maguire, approval, but this seems not to have Nancy Theberge, Ken Green, Alain happened – I suspect at least as much Garrigou, Chris Rojek and myself. from negligence on Elias’s part as on Given the depth and breadth of Eric’s that of the publishers, who did not find work in the sociology of sport (and him an easy author with whom to deal. in sociology more generally) over the The Editorial Advisory Board for the course of the past 40 or so years, the Collected Works has given considerable editors undoubtedly had a very difficult thought to the difficulties this raises. job in finalising the list of contributors. They did not believe that they could Although many distinguished figura- authorise the editors of the various tional and non-figurational sociologists Eric with editors of the Festschrift, Ivan Wadding- volumes retrospectively to make the were not asked, it was felt that – tom (left) and Dominic Malcolm (right) sort of thorough revisions that might because of the nature of the publication have arisen from sensitive copy-editing (it being a leading sport journal) – it Eric himself accepts the label ‘sociolo- during Elias’s lifetime. Some meas- had to be restricted to those who had gist of sport’ as a matter of convenience ures could nevertheless be taken to written about sport in some way. I am – ‘he has always seen research on sport improve the readability of certain pas- sure that Figurations readers will join only as a means of contributing theo-

4 Figurations Issue No.26 December 2006 (around the table left to right): Joe Maguire, Jennifer Smith Maguire, Stephen Mennell, Ivan Waddington, Eric’s partner Julia (hidden), Eric Dunning, Dominic Malcolm, Alan Bairner, Katie Liston, Ken Sheard, Patrick Murphy. retically and empirically to the develop- ‘Boxing blind: unplanned processes in REVIEW ESSAY: DEREK ment of the discipline of sociology as the development of modern boxing’ LAYDER ON ELIAS a whole’ (Waddington and Malcolm, Richard Gruneau: ‘“Amateurism” as a p. 505) – those of us who have worked sociological problem: some reflections Derek Layder, Understanding Social with Eric in the sub-discipline that is inspired by Eric Dunning’ Theory. London: Sage. 326 pp. ISBN the sociology of sport have found him Alan Bairner: ‘The Leicester School 0761944508 (pbk). to be a pater familias par excellence. and the study of football hooliganism’ Those in the figurational community Joseph Maguire: ‘Millwall and the As we know, Elias’s work is becoming who have sought, together with Eric, to making of football’s folk devils: revisit- increasingly popular around the world extend the application of Elias’s work ing the Leicester period’ and it is interesting to note his inclusion to hitherto unexplored social phenom- Katie Liston: ‘Sport and gender rela- in texts devoted to sociological theory in ena, will I am sure join with the editors tions’ the past ten years or so – see for exam- of this issue in raising a glass to Eric’s Nancy Theberge: ‘The gendering of ple Ritzer’s well-known Sociological longstanding commitment to furthering sports injury: a look at “progress” in Theory. More recently, the second edi- our understanding of sport and the com- women’s sport through a case study of tion of Layder’s Understanding Social plexities of social life more generally. the biomedical discourse on the injured Theory now includes a discussion of athletic body’ Elias. But, perusing Layder’s text while The full list of contributions is: Ken Green: ‘Physical education and preparing a module on ‘Sociological figurational sociology: an appreciation Theories’, I was rather disappointed at Ivan Waddington and Dominic Mal- of the work of Eric Dunning’ the content of Layder’s discussion. I colm: ‘Eric Dunning: this sporting life’ Alain Garrigou: ‘Illusio in sport’ suspect that my disappointment may be Stephen Mennell: ‘The contribution of Chris Rojek: ‘Sports celebrity and the applied to other commentaries on the Eric Dunning to the sociology of sport: civilising process’ adequacy of Elias’s theoretical work and the foundations’ you may share this disappointment if Allen Guttmann ‘Civilised mayhem: Katie Liston you have read this and other such texts. origins and early development of Amer- University of Chester ican Football’ The increasing tendency to publish Patrick Murphy and Ken Sheard: these books for general readership by

Issue No.26 December 2006 Figurations 5 graduates is a function both of the pro- an uncritical extension of Elias’s ideas cal approaches that stress the primacy liferation of sociological theories and which ‘only hinders an accurate appre- of the social’ (p. 146). For Layder (and of increasing competition between aca- ciation of the strengths and limitations others), the individual–society problem demic publishing houses. As a result, I of his work’ (p. 141). The particular is a ‘red herring’ because the real ques- suspect that many theoretical publica- problem of ‘situated interaction’ has, tion is not that sociologists reproduce tions are losing some of their rigour according to Layder, a number of this false distinction. Rather, contem- and depth. And I say this as a relatively dimensions: the adequacy of various porary sociologists are, it seems, more young sociologist with much to learn sociological explanations of ‘funda- sophisticated and ‘the real differences about sociological theory. The first mental connectedness of the individual between sociologists arise over the edition of Layder’s text was published and society’ (p. 144); and, ‘the fudging question of how human social activi- in 1994 when I was an undergraduate of the distinction between individuals ties (including the solo activities of student of Stephen Mennell’s at UCD. and the social contexts in which they individuals) are related to the social Then, I was encouraged to read Lay- act’ (p. 144), which, for Layder, means contexts in which they are embedded’ der’s text for a number of modules and that ‘it is all too easy to jump from the (p. 146). Here, perhaps there is a degree I found the text to be informative but idea that individuals are social beings of adequacy to Layder’s arguments if obviously limited in depth given the … to the conclusion that there are no we exclude the bracketed addition to wide-ranging spectrum of sociological barriers at all between the individual this statement. And, if you agree with theories and the book’s stated intention and the social world’. In other words, my clarification of Layder’s work, it is of introducing the reader to key issues Layder argues that Elias’s work on the this very point which makes Eliasians’ in modern social theory. Since then, formation of people’s personality struc- claims about the social generation and Layder has modified the second edi- tures and self-images is ‘submerged reproduction of I-, we- and they-images tion to include more recent theoretical in social processes virtually without a an important contribution to the field of movements and he has also ‘changed trace’ (p. 144). sociology. some of [his] views … [and] taken the opportunity to amend or reformulate For Layder, ‘it is perfectly feasible Having said that, my disappointment some of the [earlier] ideas’ (p. vii). to talk of the relatively independent with Layder’s treatment of the latter Here, I focus on the content of the properties of individuals as long as question comes from two sources. The second edition with specific reference they are understood to have an organic first is that Layder does not outline to his positioning of Elias’s work in the connection with social processes’ (p. Elias’s work on this in any great detail, chapter entitled ‘Beyond Macro and 145). Here, his definition of this organic so that we could be forgiven for asking Micro: Abandoning False Problems’. connection seems to involve a recon- whether he has actually read it. Unlike struction of the ‘individual’ as a unit other sociologists who tend to see The I shall begin by trying to elucidate for social analysis. If Layder is cor- Civilising Process as the only discus- those points that are useful for stu- rect, then it is possible to establish ‘a sion of Elias’s theoretical work, Layder dents who may use Layder’s text as clear distinction between general and does draw from What is Sociology? to their first introduction to Elias’s work, specific claims as they relate to the dif- suggest that questions of ‘situated con- but also as a case study of some of ferent levels of analysis’ (p. 145). In his duct’ are ‘conspicuously absent from the problems associated with modern words: Elias’s work’ (p. 147). Implicit here is sociological theory. Layder focuses on a critique of the absence of reflexivity the concept of figuration as it ‘helps ‘For example, a concentration on the in Elias’s work and this critique has us to go beyond the false dichotomies socially constructed nature of sexuality also been made by other academics, and dualisms that plague contemporary or self-identity, as they can be traced including some feminists. My second sociology’ (p. 140), although he sug- over long periods of development, disappointment lies in what seems to gests soon after this that the concept must be distinguished from a specific be Layder’s narrow (if not lack of) ‘possesses serious limitations in dealing individual’s identity and sexual devel- awareness of Elias’s other work includ- with the relevant issues’. According to opment.’ ing The Society of Individuals in which Layder, one of the strengths of Elias’s Elias answers the very questions that developmental approach is the: Here the reader could be forgiven for Layder raises about ‘the unique psycho- thinking that Layder had driven around biographies and distinct personalities ‘concentration on the empirical, the roundabout, missed the Eliasian of individuals’ (Layder, 2005, p. 147). socially emergent nature of our [theo- junction and arrived back at the same For example, Layder argues that ‘Elias retical] knowledge … However, we starting point, i.e. dualism. For Layder, tends to use Freudian ideas in terms of should beware of over-generalising his Elias’s work seems to suggest that indi- their connection with long-term social [Elias’s] analysis to areas of social life vidual people are ‘simply reflections of developments and their implications for which are beyond its reach. This prob- (their) circumstances’ (p. 145). collective behaviour and the general lem is particularly acute for the analysis personality structures of individuals. of situated interaction’(p. 140). Following on from this, Layder argues But what occurs in a general social- against the so-called fashionable structural (or collective) sense does not Before Layder outlines this particular attempts to ‘banish the individual as allow us to understand the unique set problem, he notes that there has been well as the more traditional sociologi- of social circumstances surrounding the

6 Figurations Issue No.26 December 2006 psychological development of individu- an absence rather than a presence’ (p. DAVID MATSINHE ON THE als’ (p. 147). Here, there is the ongoing 150), and these ties are, at one and the DANCE FLOOR problem of Layder’s commitment to same time, mediated by the face-to-face valuing ‘the levels of independence we interaction with a government clerk or David Matsinhe of the University of exhibit from (social relationships) at the official. We have a relatively imper- Alberta has sent us a stimulating paper same time’ (p. 147). sonal relationship with this person and on ‘The Dance Floor’ which, however, ‘an externally defined interest’ (p. 151). is far too long for us to publish here Layder’s final charge against Eliasians For Layder, the ‘defining characteristics (the original is longer than this issue relates to their claims that the concept of institutions’ are to be found in ‘the of Figurations). But, especially in view of figuration is a breakthrough in rela- influence of reproduced practices on of Elias’s own use of images of dancing tion to the macro-micro problem. Here, the behaviour of many people, many of when he sought to explain the notion of Layder takes issue with Mennell’s sug- whom have no connections with each ‘figuration’, we thought readers would gestion ‘that, if we join network analy- other and are unlikely to have face-to- be interested in this brief summary of sis to Elias’s notion of interdependen- face contact’ (p. 151). David’s argument: cies, we then have a more serviceable means of linking macro and macro than To conclude, my disappointment lies In ‘The Dance Floor’, Matsinhe seeks the concept of interaction’ (p. 149). in Layder’s philosophical commitment to explore people’s emotional excite- Even if his interpretation of Mennell’s to reflexivity and the meanings that ment and their pleasurable enjoyment work was accurate, Layder argues that individual people give to social interac- from, and in, the dance figurations the combination of network analysis to tion. While the latter is not necessar- they form on the dance floor. His jus- Elias’s notion of interdependence blurs ily problematic in and of itself from a tification for doing so is the fact that, the ‘distinctive characteristics of activi- sociological point of view, Layder’s as Elias and Dunning have argued, ties and structures’. Therefore, ‘Elias approach to this issue is, ironically, people’s pleasurable satisfactions and his followers are led to the conclu- an example of the very problems that have received much less sociologi- sion that, for all intents and purposes, Elias sought to resolve, or at the very cal attention than social constraints. structures and activities are the same least, dissolve. That is, Layder sees For Matsinhe, the dance floor figura- (networks of varying size and density sociological approaches to the indi- tion, when taken as essential in the and so on) and that they have similar vidual–society problem in either/or development of modern Canada, is an properties’ (p. 149). Because of this terms – either the ‘individual’ is ‘firmly interesting site for scientific investiga- narrow understanding of interdepend- embedded in social relationships’ or tion which can illustrate the emotional ence, Layder suggests that the differ- s/he is ‘entirely socially constructed’ tension-balance in official, non-leisure ence between face-to-face interaction (p. 153). Moreoever, Layder’s commit- life, on the one hand, and the needs for and so-called structural or macro phe- ment to the ‘intersubjective meanings’ emotional excitement in leisure life, on nomena can be explained as follows: of social behaviour and ‘face-to-face the other, as well as revealing aspects interactive processes’ is characteristic of the emotional history of Canada. As ‘they are both networks of individu- of other contemporary agency–struc- part of this, he utilises Victor Turner’s als distinguished simply by the greater ture approaches. Layder refers to this theory of liminality, Mikhail Bakhtin’s length of the interdependence chains in as ‘the distinctive characteristics of historico-cultural conception of carni- macro phenomena and … face-to-face social activity and social structure’ (p. val, and Norbert Elias’s theory of the encounters are characterised by more 153). Thus, in seeking to outline Elias’s civilising process, particularly ideas on immediate and personalised involve- ideas about the abandonment of false the quest for excitement and informali- ments’. (p. 150) dichotomies, Layder has unintention- sation. For the author, the experience ally reproduced these very dichotomies of the dance floor figuration is more or Here it seems that Layder does not in his critique of Elias’s work so that less akin to communitas experience in consider that the very premise of his his conclusions – ‘by simply abandon- liminal spaces, given the technologies question reflects a narrow and reduc- ing these dualisms and distinctions we and techniques involved in nightclubs tionist understanding of figuration and do not make any advances in our under- and dance floors which are designed to homines aperti. Kilminster’s warnings standing of social processes’ (p. 152) – facilitate and speed up the process of about the problems emanating from the are self-evident to him, but tautological emotional stimulation and excitement. persistence of Kantianism are clearly for Eliasians. In fact, rather than intro- There are also substances which help pertinent. duce the reader to key issues in modern dancers to ‘lay down their ingrown social theory, Layder’s work (on Elias anti-instinct and anti-drive armour, take Following this claim, Layder chooses at least) is a useful case study that it easy, lie back, unwind their minds the example of the differing nature of elucidates some of the problems with and relax’; and dancers require the abil- social ties with government and formal modern ‘social theory’, and especially ity to read more or less accurately the authority to elucidate the problems that with introductory books about it. emotional signals which other dancers he sees with the notion of interdepend- give off, particularly when it comes to ence. Ties with government and formal Katie Liston the selection of a sexual partner. The authority are, for him, ties of interde- University of Chester dance floor is also mimetic to a certain pendence that are ‘based primarily upon extent, but it is also within the range

Issue No.26 December 2006 Figurations 7 of the civilising gaze in the form of balance between feelings of superiority For the full paper, contact the author at: social controls and self-restraints. Of and inferiority between and amongst [email protected] particular relevance here are broader established and outsider groups in the developments including the institution- Canadian context. alisation of multiculturalism and the

RECENT BOOKS AND ARTICLES

Peter R. Gleichmann, Soziologie als as core of Elias’s sociology of knowl- Contents Synthese: Zivilisationstheoretische edge. Modern science, Gleichmann Soziologie als Synthese – Vorwort des Schriften über Architektur, Wissen und argues, leads to fragmentation of its Herausgebers Gewalt [Sociology as Synthesis: Essays objects. In the case of the human and Teil I Architektur und Zivilisation on Architecture, Knowledge and Vio- life sciences, the theoretical fragmen- 1. Soziologische Bemerkungen zur lence in the Light of the Theory of Civi- tation of human beings often leads to ‘Anpassung der Wohnung an den lising Processes] (edited by Hans-Peter their reduction to their lifeless aspects. Menschen’ Waldhoff). Wiesbaden: VS – Verlag für This makes it so easy to employ 2. Raumtheorien und Architektur: Sozialwissenschaften, 2006. ISBN-10 modern sciences for practical programs Einige Stichworte zu den materialen 3-531-15324-2. 420 pp. (hardback) of the reduction and even destruction of Formen der architektonischen Ver- €49.90. lives. Gleichmann shows how this hap- ständigung über Raumvorstellungen Peter Gleichmann was one of the very pens in the processes of planning the 3. Zum langfristigen Verhäuslichen der first scholars trying to repatriate the built environment, in scientific method- menschlichen Vitalfunktionen – ins sociology of Norbert Elias, and espe- ologies and in the deadly intertwining besondere zu den Harn- und Kotent- cially the theory of civilising processes, of militarisation and civilisation. leerungen into Germany. He not only did a great 4 Wandel der Wohnverhältnisse, deal to promote the reception of Elias’s Verhäuslichung der Vitalfunktionen, writings, but he also contributed to fur- Verstädterung und siedlungsräumliche ther theoretical development. This can Gestaltungsmacht now be seen in a comprehensive book, 5 Schlafen und Schlafräume encompassing selected writings from 6 Nacht und Zivilisation: Wandlungen his work over four decades and on the im Erleben der Nacht four central topics on which he wrote: 7 Architektur und Zivilisation: eine architecture, knowledge, Norbert Eli- Skizze as’s theory formation, and violence. 8 Sich ein Bild machen von Zugängen zur Soziologie? One might well ask how these seem- ingly quite unrelated topics are con- Teil II Soziologisches Orientierungs- nected. One connection can be seen in wissen the subtitle: all these subjects are dealt 1 Über den Beitrag von Norbert Elias with under the aspect of their mean- zu einer soziologischen Entwick- ing for humans in civilising processes. lungstheorie – Eine kommentierte The other is evident in the title: it is the Selbsteinschätzung quest for connecting empirical evidence 2 Zum Austausch wissenschaftlichen itself, the quest for synthesis, which Wissens: Ein Beitrag zu Ideal und holds the book together. Wirklichkeit der ‘interdisziplinären’ Denkarbeit von Wissenschaftlern In a further step Gleichmann relates 3 Über gesellschaftliche Intellektuali- the theory of civilising processes to the sierungsprozesse und Wissenssyn- social processes of synthesis-formation thesen

8 Figurations Issue No.26 December 2006 4 Soziologisches Orientierungswissen Abstract: The central issue of the inves- seemed perversely to stand in the way für europäische Staatsgesellschaften? tigation is the analysis of the concept of his growing reputation. – SJM 5 Metamorphosen der sozialen Frage: of violence in contemporary Spanish Über Robert Castels historische society through the study of combat Marjorie Fitzpatrick, ‘Music and Soziologie sports (conceived of as institutionalised Power in Eighteenth-century Court violence). For that purpose an historical Society’, All Hallows Studies (Dublin), Teil III Über Norbert Elias analysis of such activities was made, in Summer 2006, pp. 81–94. 1 Zur historisch-soziologischen relation with the development of soci- Psychologie von Norbert Elias ety as a whole, on the basis of which This article summarises Marjorie 2 Norbert Elias – aus Anlaß seines 90. a field study was carried out of two Fitzpatrick’s 2004 UCD PhD thesis Geburtstages of this kind of discipline, boxing and (see Figurations 22). She focuses on 3 Norbert Elias und der Prozeß der aikido, as they have developed today in Handel’s Messiah, first performed in Zivilisation Madrid. It is shown how the institution- Dublin in 1742, and especially on its 4 Das Deutschland-Bild von Norbert alised violence observed in these sports libretto by Charles Jennens, arguing Elias und Elias-Bilder der Deut- is delimited between two thresholds, that it provided a justification of a sort schen: Engagiert-distanzierte one upper and one lower, beyond which of Protestant ‘divine right of kings’. It Bemerkungen zu einem we find those activities not considered was especially relevant to the peculiar europäischen Soziologen acceptable as combat sports. The case offshoot of eighteenth-century court 5 ‘Wofür habe ich überhaupt gelebt?’ of boxing is utterly significant because society represented by the ‘Protestant Persönliche Erinnerungen an Norbert even though it was a very popular Ascendancy’ in Ireland, serving to Elias sport until the 1970s, at the end of that empower the members of that minority 6 Einige Schritte voran in den Men- decade it encountered great public ruling class emotionally, morally, politi- schenwissenschaften – Norbert Elias opposition, which placed it on the very cally and religiously. limit of acceptability. That fact is an Teil IV Zivilisation, Gewalt und Töten index of a change in social sensibility, Fernando Amoudia de Haro (Univer- 1 Soziale Wandlungen der Affekt- und of cultural paradigms relating to ques- sidad de Salamanca), ‘Administrar el Verhaltensstandarde sowie der Iden- tions of violence, and this was associ- yo: literatura de autoayuda y gestion del titätsgemeinschaften. Zur Zivilisie- ated with the social ascent of the new comportamiento y los afectos’, REIS rung eines vereinten Deutschlands middle classes with higher education, (Revista Española de Investigaciones 2 Sind Menschen in der Lage, vom forming an hegemonic group in opposi- Sociológicas) 113 (Enero–Marzo) gegenseitigen Töten abzulassen? tion to forms of conflict among people 2006: 49–75. Zum Verflechten von Militarisie- predominant throughout the recent his- rungs- und Zivilisationsprozessen tory of our country (civil war, dictator- Abstract: The aim of this paper is to ana- 4 Gewalttätige Menschen: Die dünne ship, terrorism). Such circumstances lyse self-help books using an analytical Schale ihrer Zivilisierung und ihre changed the way in which boxing was approach based on Norbert Elias’s theory vielen ambivalenten Auswege practised, effectively bringing profes- of civilising processes, which explains 5 Über massenhaftes Töten sprechen sional boxing to an end, and bringing the code for the management of conduct lernen about new forms closer in appearance and the , here referred to as the to recreation than to a combat sport. ‘reflective civilisation code’. The study Alejandro N. García Martínez, of the code involves a presentation of El proceso de la civilización en la soci- Stephen Mennell, ‘Elias and the Coun- its contents as well as a statement of ología de Norbert Elias. Pamplona: ter-ego’, History of the Human Sci- the arguments used to support advice Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, ences, 19 (2) 2006: 73–91. and precepts regarding the regulation of 2006. 410 pp. ISBN: 84-313-2372-8 (pb). conduct and the emotions. Finally, we In conversation, Norbert Elias experi- propose a characterisation of the social This is quite evidently a major and very mented with the concept of a ‘coun- bases of the code, taking the theoretical welcome treatment in Spanish of Elias’s ter-ego’. Although I myself never contributions of the so-called ‘Anglo- whole work. We hope to publish a full discussed it with him, I think I knew Foucauldian’ theories as a model. review in Figurations 27. exactly what he meant – and to what it corresponded in his own experience Fernando Amoudia de Haro, ‘Una Raul Sanchez, Paradigma cultural – as soon as Cas Wouters mentioned the Approximación al proceso civilizatorio y violencia en la sociedad Española: idea to me. Like so many other civilised español’, Praxis Sociológica 9, 2005: El caso de los deportes de combate human beings, Norbert was often his 91–122. en la comunidad de Madrid [Cultural own worst enemy. This article, based on paradigm and violence in Spanish soci- personal recollections and my own cor- Abstract: The aim of this paper is to ety: the case of combat sports in the respondence with Elias, recalls the last offer a general approach to the Span- autonomous community of Madrid] highly productive part of his life, when ish civilising process in its ‘micro’ Unpublished PhD thesis, Universidad he gradually attracted an extensive level, using Elias’s theory of civilising Complutense, Madrid. international following. They depict processes. The work is centred on five his foibles, some endearing, some that basic social codes (medieval courtesy,

Issue No.26 December 2006 Figurations 9 modern courtesy, prudence, civilisation, ten book, Wolf Lepenies examines what Ademir Gebara, ed., Conversas sobre and the reflexive civilisation code). The he sees as a characteristically German Norbert Elias: Depoimentos para uma reconstruction of the codes shows some habit of valuing cultural achievement historia do pensamento sociológico. moments of this process. Finally, a pos- above all else, and rating it as a noble 2nd ed., Pirascicaba, SP: Biscalchin sible development in the contemporary substitute for politics. He argues that Editor, 2006 civilising process is suggested, based this preference for art over politics is on an analogy between classical good essential to understanding the peculiar This is the second edition of Ademir manners handbooks and self-help texts. nature of Nazism: Hitler and many of Gebara’s compilation of interviews his circle were failed artists and intel- about Elias and matters Eliasian with Sofia Gaspar, ‘Consecuencias no lectuals who seem to have practised Eric Dunning, Johan Goudsblom and intencionales y figuración: una incur- politics as a substitute form of art. Lep- Stephen Mennell, conducted in Brazil sion crítica en la obra de Norbert Elias’, enies ranges widely through German and Oxford in 2000–1. REIS (Revista Española de Investi- history and culture from the eighteenth gaciones Sociológicas) 101 (Enero– century, from Goethe to Thomas Mann, Marzo) 2003: 119–48. and showing how the German sense of BIBLIOGRAPHICAL cultural superiority affected its relations RETROSPECT Abstract: This paper analyses the with other countries, notably France theoretical centrality of a classic sub- and the USA. Claudine Haroche, ‘Position et dis- ject in sociology – the ‘unintended position des convives dans la société consequences of social action’ (UCA) Right at the beginning of the book, de cours au 17e siècle’ [Position and – through an exploration of the work Lepenies quotes from Elias’s The Ger- seating of guests in seventeenth-century of Norbert Elias. First of all, the paper mans: ‘embedded in the meaning of the court society: points to consider about tries to delineate the analytical bases German term “culture” was a non-polit- political power in space at table]. Revue of the UCA, having as a starting point ical and perhaps even anti-political bias française de science politique, 48 (3–4) the critical revision made by Ramón symptomatic of the recurrent feeling 1998: 376-86. Ramos, who tries to revitalise its opera- among the German middle-class elites tional character in contemporary soci- that politics … represented the area This article forms a footnote to Elias’s ology. Secondly, in line with Ramos’s of their humiliation and lack of free- The Court Society. Seventeenth-cen- proposal, the way Elias develops the dom …’; and he then refers to Elias’s tury court table arrangements have task of focusing the subject of sociol- well-known discussion of the German been studied often and well. Studying ogy through the overcoming of certain antithesis of Kultur and Zivilisation, at them again is nevertheless interest- traditional dualisms: individual/society, the beginning of The Civilising Pro- ing because, through the functioning action/structure, micro/macro – intro- cess. Like Elias, Lepenies then opens of space at table, it is possible to raise ducing at the centre of his analysis the the development of his argument by questions essential for the intelligibility concept of ‘figuration’, as a synthetical referring to Thomas Mann’s Reflections of certain anthropological elements of promise in social theory. This con- of an Un-Political Man. There is thus political power. In addition to the sym- cept integrates two analytical levels a sense in which Lepenies’s hypothesis bolic dimension of power, we would – intended and unintended structures is directly derived from Elias. So it like to take into account a dimension – that are frequently differentiated from is a little surprising that there are no perceptible in the position and seat- one another. Elias postulates the exist- further references to Elias’s writings. ing of guests imposed by ceremonial ence of (a) unintended interdepend- Nevertheless, The Seduction of Culture etiquette, a dimension found equally ences between intentional actions; (b) in German History is a brilliant exten- in the vocabulary of the table. Maurice these unintended interdependences sion of these ideas that will fascinate all Halbwachs’s work is of great interest in remain over the intentional actions of readers who are interested in this aspect this perspective: it highlights the role of individuals, when one analyses social of Elias’s concerns. the material components of institutional processes. In this way, intentions and functioning, and leads to a reflection individuals are made by unintended about the congruence of place in con- interdependences in the figurational crete, material, physical space and posi- process. Finally, the theoretical tion in the social and political order, in strengths and weaknesses of Elias’s the institutional space. proposal are discussed in view of his persistent attempt to distance his views from holism and from methodological BOOK ANNOUNCEMENTS individualism. Two volumes of the Collected Works Wolf Lepenies, The Seduction of Cul- of Norbert Elias in English, along with ture in German History. Princeton, NJ: a separate new book by Elias – The Princeton University Press, 2006. 260 pp. Genesis of the Naval Profession, com- piled in large part from his unpublished In this major and rather brilliantly writ- papers – will be published by UCD

10 Figurations Issue No.26 December 2006 Press in February 2007: Call for papers: and democratic way of life while they Involvement and Detachment On the Saturday, no more than eight were also tacitly accepted as inevitable Collected Works vol. 8 younger scholars will be invited to aspects of securing the achievements Edited by Stephen Quilley address the conference. If you would of the American Revolution. While all ISBN: 1904558429 like to be one of those who give nations face challenges to civilising Price: £ 45.00 / € 60.00 papers, please inform the Elias Foun- processes, there is a particular aware- dation (giving your name and topic) ness of the tensions between the ideal An Essay on Time at [email protected] by 31 March 2007. self-image as a beacon of civilisation Collected Works vol. 9 The Foundation will meet the costs of and democracy and the realities of Edited by Steven Loyal and Stephen speakers’ travel to and accommodation violent conflicts in the USA that has Mennell in Marbach. characterised its intellectual discourse ISBN: 1904558410 in a marked way. We invite papers on Price: £ 45.00 / € 60.00 Civilising and Decivilising Processes: or within this tradition. A Figurational Approach to Ameri- The Genesis of The Naval Profession can Studies Civilising Projects? Religion, Litera- Edited and with an Introduction by Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität ture, and the Arts René Moelker and Stephen Mennell Frankfurt, 22–24 November, 2007 Religion, literature, and the arts have ISBN: 1904558801 Call for Papers long been seen as civilising projects Price: £ 40.00 / € 50.00 ‘Civilising processes’, ‘habitus’, ‘out- – a view that persists in hopes to find sider’, and ‘figuration’ are key concepts sites of subversion and resistance at For further details, and to order copies, from a body of cultural theories hardly least in the latter two. What is the rela- see www.ucdpress.ie known in American Studies on either tion of these fields to larger social, side of the Atlantic. They refer to an political, and economic processes? examination of human figurations in Contributions might examine interrela- FORTHCOMING history, a socio-historical approach tions between these fields, the attitude CONFERENCES as practiced by Norbert Elias, Pierre towards violence in them, economic Bourdieu, and more recently, Loïc Wac- and legal questions such as patronage X Civilising Process Symposium, quant. We invite scholars in the fields or copyright, the formation of a specifi- University of Campinas, Brazil, of American Studies, Literature, Sociol- cally American religious field, the role 2–5 April 2007 ogy, History or Political Science inter- of ‘schools’ or single powerful figures The tenth Brazilian symposium on ested in applying an approach based on within figurations. civilising processes is scheduled to figurational sociology to phenomena be held on 2–5 April 2007 (the week in the US. Possible contributions may Please indicate your general interest as before Easter). Anyone interested in address, but are not limited to, the fol- soon as possible, and send a one-page attending should email Ademir Gebara lowing topics and questions: proposal by the end of January 2007 ([email protected]) or Tatiana to [email protected] Savoia Landini ([email protected]). The Formation of the State and of Indi- and/or [email protected] viduals Conference to mark the completion The formation of the American state as of the Norbert Elias Gesammelte conquering territory, nature, and people OBITUARY Schriften lasted well into the nineteenth century, Deutsches Literaturarchiv, Marbach an when these processes had largely come Olive Banks (1923–2006) der Neckar, Germany to an end in . This may be used I learned with deep sadness in early To mark the completion of the publica- to reformulate Crèvecœur’s famous October that my friend and former tion by Suhrkamp of Elias’s collected question, ‘What, then, is an Ameri- colleague, Olive Banks (née Davies), works in German, a conference will be can?’: What, then, is the specific rela- had died on 14 September aged 83. held on 14–15 September 2007 at the tion of state formation and habitus in She was a highly regarded, very pro- Deutsches Literaturarchiv in Marbach, America? Contributions may look at the ductive and well-liked member of the where his papers are now housed. development of manners, at the role of Leicester Sociology Department during sports, at concepts such as wilderness the 1970s, and (together with her late It is planned that on the Friday after- or frontier with their particular relation husband, Joe) played an important part noon two distinguished speakers will to violence, or at figurations such as in helping to sustain throughout that respond to the closing pages of Über established and outsiders. decade Leicester’s reputation for first- den Prozess der Zivilisation, showing rate sociological scholarship which had their contemporary relevance to a glo- Challenges to the Civilising Process been established under the regime of balising world more than half a century In the eyes of contemporaries – in the Ilya Neustadt and Norbert Elias during after they were written. That evening, eighteenth as well as in the twenty- the 1960s. it is hoped that it will be possible to first century – slavery and torture, present a live performance of Elias’s war and displacement were recognised Olive received her PhD from the Der Ballade vom Armen Jakob. and deplored as threats to a civilised University of London in 1953, and

Issue No.26 December 2006 Figurations 11 was appointed Research Lecturer in Leicester School’ and which began to CONTRIBUTIONS TO the Department of at challenge the LSE as the chief national FIGURATIONS the University of in 1954, producer of sociologists in the 1960s. remaining there until 1969–70. In the David Lockwood implicitly recognised The next issue of Figurations will latter academic year, she was appointed Olive’s synthesising abilities when he be mailed in May 2007. News and Reader in Sociology at the University wrote of her that: ‘Her first book, Parity notes should be sent to the Editors of Leicester and took up her post in and Prestige in English Secondary by 1 April 2007. 1971. She was awarded a Personal Education, was not only an important Chair in 1973 – when she was, it is hard contribution to the study of education Editor: Stephen Mennell now to believe, the first female profes- and stratification but it also broke new Editorial Address: Department sor to be appointed at the University of ground methodologically as a model for of Sociology, University College Leicester. the writing of “sociological history”.’ Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland [NOTE: Until 31 August 2007, the Olive’s main area of interest and exper- Olive’s ‘elective affinity’ with what Editor is on sabbatical leave at St tise was the sociology of education. she called ‘the Leicester tradition’ Catharine’s College, Cambridge. Indeed, her influential textbook on was shown even more clearly when, Postal, fax and email communica- that subject had sold more than 30,000 referring to Norbert Elias’s essay on tions to the UCD address will still copies as early as 1972. She also made ‘involvement and detachment’, she reach him, but a new telephone important contributions (both alone and wrote: number in Cambridge is given in collaboration with Joe) in the fields ‘The cultivation of the necessary degree below.] of industrial relations, population stud- of detachment is ... greatly aided by Tel. +44-1223-329022; Fax: +353-1- ies and the study of what is now called membership of an academic com- 706 1125. ‘gender relations.’ She even propheti- munity dedicated to scholarship in the E-mail: [email protected] cally anticipated environmental sociol- widest of terms. The old-fashioned ogy and possibly even global warming! academic values of intellectual curios- Associate Editor: Dr Katie Liston, For example, she said in her 1974 inau- ity and the dedication to truth are, it Department of Sport and Exercise gural lecture: ‘We are ... now beginning is now fashionable to point out, them- Sciences, University of Chester, to recognize that a combination of pop- selves ideological statements rather Parkgate Road, Chester CH1 4BJ, ulation expansion and economic growth than factual descriptions of the aca- United Kingdom. produces a level of environmental pol- demic scene, convenient cloaks ... for Tel. + 44-1244 221205; Fax: +44- lution which may in the long run prove privilege and self-seeking. I would not 1244 392889 not only aesthetically unacceptable but wish to dispute that this is sometimes E-mail: [email protected] an actual, and even acute, danger to all so, but an exclusive attention to the forms of life’. ideological aspects of academic values Contributions should preferably be is to miss their function in maintaining e-mailed to the Editor, or sent on The most distinctive feature of Leices- the independence of the universities, a disk (formatted for PC-DOS, not ter sociology in the 1960s and 70s was an independence which is in my view Apple Mackintosh); Microsoft Word, the insistence of Neustadt and Elias a necessary condition for the progress Rich Text and plain text files can all that sociology should be a comparative of science generally, and the social sci- be handled. Do not use embedded and historical (more properly ‘devel- ences in particular.’ footnotes. Hard copy is accepted opmental’ or ‘processual’) subject that reluctantly. seeks to build on the contributions of I think that it is best in the context of an such classical sociologists as Comte, obituary to leave these words, penned © 2006, Norbert Elias Stichting, J.J. Marx, Durkheim, Spencer and Weber. and spoken by Olive more than thirty Viottastraat 13, 1071 JM Amster- Partly as a result of the post-World years ago, to speak for themselves. But dam, Netherlands. War II drive to build a welfare state, let it also be said that Olive and Joe the influence of the philosopher Karl Banks are perhaps best remembered Graphic Design and Desktop Popper, and sociological trends in the in Leicester for taking voluntary early Publishing: Annette van de Sluis. USA, such a view came to be widely retirement in 1982 when the Thatcher Printed by MultiCopy, challenged at the London School of government imposed 10 per cent staff- Weesperstraat 65, Amsterdam. during the 1950s. In her ing cuts on the universities. It was an early encounters with Norbert Elias and act which helped to save the jobs of Researchers, institutes or libraries me, Olive Banks had been sceptical some five of our colleagues and is one who would like to receive this news- about what she saw as our ‘evolution- more measure of the spirit of selfless- letter should write to Saskia Visser, ary’ and even Victorian perspective. ness and humanity which was mixed in Secretary, Norbert Elias Foundation, However, Olive was one of the few equal measure with the Bankses’ socio- J.J. Viottastraat 13, 1071 JM Amster- LSE products of that period who man- logical nous. dam, The Netherlands. Figurations aged effectively to synthesise parts of will be sent to them free of charge. the LSE position with parts of the tradi- Eric Dunning tion of what later became known as ‘the

12 Figurations Issue No.26 December 2006