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Newsletter of the Norbert Elias Foundation

FiguratioNs: coNtENts ElEctroNic vErsioN Figurations: electronic version 1 All the evidence seems to show People 3 that people read printed copies Inaugural lecture of Professor Stefanie Ernst of newsletters such as this more thoroughly than when they read From the Norbert Elias Foundation 3 onscreen, and Figurations will Elias Collected Works in English 3 continue to be printed and posted. Studies on the Germans published In the media 4 they would like to receive the latest issues by email. If you would prefer to And in blogland 4 receive Figurations in that form, please Family background of Norbert Elias – Adrian Jitschin 5 send an email – stating your postal address as well as your email address nl. This will save the Foundation a bit of the cost of printing and postage.

Figurational journals 9 All back numbers of Figurations since 1994 have been available Other recent books and articles 11 online for many years: go to www. From the author 18 Bibliographical retrospect 20 PEoPlE Books received 20 Recent conferences 20 Dieter Reicher gained his Habitus, War and Civilisation: Towards an Understanding of the Habilitation and his professorial Bellicose Sides of Society, Graz, April 2013 veni legendi at the Karl-Franzens- Forthcoming conferences 22 resulting book below. From the Past to the Present and towards Possible Futures –Leicester, . 23 Grenoble), has been admitted to the Institut Universitaire de France 24 (the French University Institute), will be conducting research on the retention of the death penalty in issue No.39 august 2013 Figurations both the French Third Republic and a socio-historical perspective. The Institut Universitaire de France allows its members to reduce their teaching from extra funding for their research project. Earlier in the year, Emmanuel Taïeb also successfully attained the agrégation

The top 50 most cited articles of Theory, Culture and Society (as of 1 originally published in the 1980s. These are: Cas Wouters (1989), Norbert Elias (three papers published in the special issue marking his on citations to online articles from

On 10 July 2013, the University Left to right: Professor Dame Olwen Hufton, Dr Jennifer Smith Maguire, Professor Stephen Mennell, Dr John Goodwin, of Leicester conferred the degree Professor Jason Hughes with Erc Dunning. of Doctor of Letters honoris causa on Eric Dunning at a degree congregation. Eric arrived in Leicester 1955, and with brief visits to other universities, has spent his entire academic career there, where he continues to work and write as Professor Emeritus. In presenting Eric for the degree, the orator stressed his loyalty not just to the university but to two central continuing interests: to sport, especially football and the thereof, and to the sociology of his teacher - and subsequent collaborator - Norbert Elias.

Also receiving the same honorary historian famous especially for her work on women and poverty in and the EUI in Fiesole. But she began her career as a junior lecturer in Leicester, at the same time as Eric Norbert Elias and Ilya Neustadt who, The Chancellor of the University, Lord Grocott, conferring the degree. she reported, tried to poach her from

2 Figurations Issue No.39 August 2013 inaugural lecture of Professor stefanie Ernst

Inaugural Lecture to approximately at Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität master class whose becoming was in question was no less than our own usual suspects were rounded up.

At the beginning of the ceremony the dean of her faculty, Professor Volker aspects of personal relationships – Website: www. which was, for instance, symbolically norbereliasfoundation.nl the place where she started studying represented by the expression ‘the sociology in the late 1980s. Please help us to keep the website up of the acquisition and development of Professor Ernst started her lecture with sociological knowledge. By doing so, the following sentence: ‘I would like page (www.norberteliasfoundation.nl/ to take you along on a journey in time network/index.php). If you are not there back to one of the greatest sociological matter of sociological research. already, send us a new entry. Left to right: Professor Dame Olwen Hufton, Dr Jennifer Smith Maguire, Professor Stephen Mennell, Dr John Goodwin, thinkers of the nineteenth and twentieth Professor Jason Hughes with Erc Dunning. presented the various academic life From thE NorbErt www.norberteliasfoundation.nl/ stages of Norbert Elias beginning in Elias FouNdatioN network/essays.php, the aim of which Frankfurt in the 1920s, via Bielefeld in is to make available important essays the 1980s and ending in in Norbert Elias on that are not easily found elsewhere. 1990: Facebook! welcome. At each of these stages Professor Ernst pointed out how in the course of time page for Norbert Elias and the Norbert the academic relationships of Elias Elias Foundation. It has been set up by abreast of news between issues of as a teacher or as a colleague among Jonathan Fletcher from his (latest) base Figurations, do enrol on the NEF Blog his students and peers turned into in New York, and Jon will run it on (see homepage, top right-hand corner). personal relationships and intellectual friendships. These were relationships network. All correspondence about the website based on trust and friendship as well as her lecture with the concepts of www.facebook.com/norberteliaspage. generations and sociology from exile. Through systematic interviews with If you are into Facebook, please sign up Elias collEctEd the members of different generations – and contribute material for the further Works iN ENglish development of the new account. locations throughout , Professor studies on the germans Ernst demonstrated the dynamic human Figurations Journal published emergence of process theory from an out-of-the-mainstream theory Please note new email addresses Norbert Elias, Studies on the shaped by biographical experiences for the Editor (Katie Liston): Germans: Power Struggles and of helplessness and powerlessness the Development of Habitus in the of its carriers to an established and nineteenth and twentieth centuries The Chancellor of the University, Lord Grocott, conferring the degree. recognised one. These interviews co.uk. (Dublin: UCD Press, 2013 [Collected provided the audience with unique insider information about this long-term process. The particular emphasis Translated by Eric Dunning and was put on the contribution of the

Issue No.39 August 2013 Figurations 3 CONTENTS Textual variants Bibliography Studies on the Germans, the Index antepenultimate volume of the Note on the text introduction Collected Works, has now been Civilisation and informalisation: Final volumes published by UCD Press. As usual, changes in European standards of Interviews and Autobiographical the volume can be bought at a 20 per behaviour in the twentieth century publication in autumn 2013, and the from the Press via the website (www. the imperial ruling class: being judged series will conclude in spring 2014 ucdpress.ie). worthy to give satisfaction A digression on nationalism consolidated index to all 18 volumes). For further details, see www.ucdpress.ie. English text of the extremely important monopoly of physical force and its breaking – his major treatment of the rise of The breakdown of civilisation iN thE mEdia Terrorism in the Federal Republic of between generations The Germans) in the early Thoughts on the Federal Republic 1990s, they did not have access to all 29 December 2012, on the topic of Appendices recorded in a Japanese restaurant in I The German aristocratic code and London, which served as a stimulus for English. Now, however, as editors of discussing different codes of politeness, the Collected Works edition, they have and how they change over time. Jason been able to locate all the English texts scatological remarks managed to get across the basic outlines III Why I began to study the problem of of the theory of civilising processes! been possible to reconstruct the full IV On the relative independence of the high nobility from the imperial court aNd iN bloglaNd Other essays include those on duelling changing feelings of identity well as on nationalism, civilisation and violence, and post-war terrorism VII Nationalism and middle-class College London), posted a list of in the Federal Republic of Germany. morality in Victorian Britain ‘Twelve career-nudging books for a In this edition, they are presented in a more logical and easily followed order, IX On the ethos of the Wilhelmine interesting link: dealing with nineteenth and twentieth- bourgeoisie century German history in more nearly X Pro-war literature during the Weimar War and chronological sequence. Peace, which I read during a summer break as a schoolboy working in a early Weimar Republic have been extensively annotated by the XII Conditions for the attainment of the (I was sacked by the supervisor, a editors, especially to make clear many domestic and foreign goals of the old historical references that Elias – quite elite spotted me deep in conversation and unrealistically – took for granted that XIII The decay of the state monopoly leaning on a shovel, but I managed to his readers would understand without of force in the Weimar Republic talk him round and was subsequently further explanation. Readers with only XIV The stab in the back reinstated). If I missed a lot in the 1500 a sketchy knowledge of German history XV Lucifer upon the ruins of the world pages, I also picked up an abiding sense XVI The meaning of the word Reich – of overarching historical and socio- much more rewarding. In their Note excerpt from Das Fischer-Lexikon cultural context and something also of on the text, moreover, the editors set XVII An empire dies the slow unfolding of social processes. Studies on the Germans in the context XVIII The awareness of powerlessness It was not until I read Elias on: (a) of the famous Historikerstreit – the – note added in 1984 bitter dispute among historians in the sport, courtesy of Dunning), and (b) 1980s about the interpretation of the The Germans that I came across a XX George Orwell, ‘England Your sociologist who adequately conveyed path of development – and of this. The historian Braudel does so too, sociological contributions such as those although I read him much later. What of Dahrendorf and Bauman. Tolstoy bequeathed was a sense of what

4 Figurations Issue No.39 August 2013 I would now call structural continuity Warsaw. A further source was his detainees. The procedure for the new even at times of all-consuming war and personal papers in the Deutsches arrivals was always the same: They arrived at a railway station with the trek east into Russia). I could not have articulated this in my mid-teens, but of the box cars were opened and they in twelve points: were chased down the ramp. People unable to move were transported to a For the full posting, see: http:// 1 The second given name of Norbert grahamscambler.wordpress. Elias was Leo. Despite there being no death. Those people able to move had documents in which Elias uses this to take off all their clothes. After that name himself, the naming is clear from January 2013) had to walk around an earthen wall to what the Nazis told them was a ‘group Family backgrouNd bodies were burned in pits. oF NorbErt Elias her in On the Process of Civilisation Treblinka was in its death toll second as an extermination camp only to Gedenkbuch Little is known about the family persons were killed in Treblinka. himself never spoke publicly in any persecution of the Jews), published detail about most of his family, and by the German Federal Archives, she 3 The Elias family always had close appeared to be a rather isolated person. was deported from Breslau to the Theresienstadt ghetto on 30 August After her husband had died early, Despite being almost unknown, the 1942. Theresienstadt was the only Therese Platau moved from Berlin family has relevance to his writings, ghetto in central Europe and it was the to Breslau in 1893 with two small at least in his autobiographical essay, where he speaks of himself as a Jewish population. The former fortress family network during that period. member of a typical Jewish middle- with high walls and only a few gates For some years she received an class family, or in his late work Studien was transformed within months in income from work as an independent über die Deutschen, where he describes 1942 into a ghetto. Over the whole seamstress, according to the Breslau gender relations in the German middle summer of 1942 transports arrived. By class at the beginning of the twentieth improved after her daughter Lilli century. But it is also relevant to knowing more about the background metres. They had to sleep in cellars, in of his most famous book, Über den attics, aisles and in some cases even 4 Lilli set up in practice as a Prozess der Zivilisation. This book on the street. During the summer heat, is not only dedicated to his parents, the infrastructure collapsed: The water became one of the closest reference it is also about different concepts of supply was absolutely inadequate for persons for Norbert. With her husband culture and civilisation in Europe. We that number of people and there was a Paul Berg, Lilli Berg-Platau had two know that Elias learned much about daughters, Ruth (born in 1923) and the civilisation of France and England. But he never spoke about his personal began to die from exhaustion, diarrhoea experience with the concept of culture 5 Through Lilli, Norbert Elias came about 4000 people died. In this situation into contact with a member of her close that sociology should incorporate medical thinking, but remains silent transport people into, they were told, later a convert to Roman Catholicism about the medical people in his family. same year as Lilli and grew up in German middle-class in general, but not transports with 11,000 Jews were sent about that of his German middle-class name was Bieberstein, was also a family. doctor, and the Biebersteins were close went to the Treblinka extermination friends with the Berg-Plataus. When in camp – not Auschwitz, as Norbert Elias 1920 the young Elias went off to spend I visited those of his hometown, always assumed. a semester in Freiburg this network and universities, the German Federal The Treblinka camp consisted of Archives, and I viewed the records scarcely more than three gas chambers and barracks for some working it became possible for Norbert Elias,

Issue No.39 August 2013 Figurations 5 who was then still a medical student, to participate in the philosophic circle of Freiburg [see Figurations Über Norbert Elias].

generations. After his aunt Therese, his cousin Lilli and her family moved to Palestine in 1933, they kept in close contact by letter. Elias saw Lilli several times again, the last time in the 1980s, when he visited her in her care home in Tel Aviv.

Clothing). Afterwards he dedicated himself to philanthropic work. took over the business. In the long run, this uncle of Norbert Elias economy, the company was taken over by the company Cohn & Labrot

It seems that Norbert Elias never worked in the family business. But possibly it was intended at some stage that he should enter it: his CV started as an employee in the company of a friend [a producer of iron should be noted that Arthur remained childless, so that Norbert would have been the obvious successor. During that transition period there might have been plans of Norbert Elias to enter the family business.

escaped from Germany in the 1930s to Chicago via the network of his For unknown reasons he stayed in England, where he had at that time no of getting into closer contact with his family, which could have helped him materially. [This point is not entirely clear: in a letter to Raymond Figurations 35.]

10 While the paternal ancestors of Norbert Elias had come from Posen small liqueur factory and for some time ran a grain trade company with

11 In 1905 the Elias family moved closer to the maternal grandparents, into the well-known Nikolaistadtgraben 14 [see Figurations 12, contacts with the grandparents – for example, they regularly ate lunch family as orthodox Jews and did not continue the close contact with them after leaving Breslau.

6 Figurations Issue No.39 August 2013 variEtiEs oF ‘mutual By way of provocative extension, may oldest brother Georg again in the idENtiFicatioN’: I suggest that this Anglo-American Theresienstadt concentration camp. rEFlEctioNs According to the memorial book both oN ‘rEsPEct’ aNd mainstream of American sociology, were imprisoned there at the same time ‘coNsidEratioN’ which broadly speaking remains at the for two weeks in 1942, before she was deported to her death. This meditation on a small difference between British English and American Stephen Mennell Despite there still being gaps in the English was inspired by participant family tree of Norbert Elias, and observation in the car park of the gym in our knowledge about his family, to which I belong in Dublin. rEviEW Essays my research has led to useful new information. It now becomes clear that The difference in question is that Vera Weiler (ed.), Norbert Elias y during his time in Breslau Norbert Elias el Problema del Desarollo Humano was involved in the family networks [Norbert Elias and the Problem of of his father and his mother. There to others (commonly British usage). In were regular contacts with and visits to American, the opposite is found in the Ediciones Aurora, 2011). uncles, aunts and grandparents. Norbert Elias kept up close contact to the family Bruna A. Scaramboni of his aunt Therese from his early hierarchical concept, much in evidence part of his family, on those members in Europe. It involves a power University of Colombia, Vera Weiler who like himself had pursued academic relationship, even a threat in the case has organised a collection of texts studies. There was a dominance of dedicated to contemporary questions medical graduates (Lilli Berg-Platau, also essentially refers to face-to-face in the social sciences, based on the interactions: it is a matter of manners theoretical framework developed by information is available about his towards a person who is actually present. Norbert Elias. maternal family. According to Norbert people, in contrast, is more that developmental , associated with lengthening chains Georg and Walter Gallewski went to of interdependence: one can show Berlin early, and an uncle Karl seems consideration to other people more abstractly conceived, people one does psychogenetic axis of the theory of the grandfather Julius died before 1922. not meet face to face but towards whom civilising process, as developed in his Whether the Elias family also kept in one feels the ‘social constraint towards magnum opus of 1939, On the Process contact with the Rosenberg family, of Civilisation. the family of his grandmother Jette, is an egalitarian concept, not hierarchical. unclear. psychoanalysis in the work of Norbert As a whole picture it becomes clear Well, it is always very crowded Elias is undeniable and widely that Norbert Elias was never isolated recognised among scholars and by Elias himself, despite the fact he did with parts of his family and knew about a dozen cars parked smack across the existence and the fate of a broader by Freud until a late stage in his life. family circle. A closer contact with been bothered to straighten up their relatives and involvement in family car – and who thus prevent the use of during the 1980s and in Le concept affairs was possible for him. But it was a space by another person. Yet I have freudien de société et au-dèla (: Norbert Elias himself who remained no doubt that, had there been another La Découverte, 2010, pp. 130–85), apart, or at the very least maintained driver visibly waiting to park alongside where he undertakes a critical distance from the family. them, the inconsiderate drivers would analysis of Freudian concepts and have stirred themselves to straighten [Comments in square brackets above are by Vera Weiler, many of the elements of Stephen Mennell; thanks to Barbara Górnicka the psychogenetic theory of changes in for additional research and Hermann Korte for additional comments.] with fellow members of the club is conduct were already present in Jean While Elias does not make reference to people who are not physically present.

Issue No.39 August 2013 Figurations 7 such as The Language and Thought forward towards a historical–genetic appear to be keywords. On the one of the Child (1923) and The Child’s theory of culture – as discussed in hand, one may ask if this chapter Conception of the World actually is necessary, considering that listed in the bibliography of extension the authors fail to come up with any courses offered by Elias ( p. 129). An and an attempt to overcome the limits new and clear manner to categorise essay by Georg W. Oesterdiekhoff ( p. established so far in the investigation of the organisations; on the other hand, human life. their honest approach of recognising between developmental psychology and this insurmountable dilemma and their the psychogenetic axis of the theory effort in making a pedagogic distinction of the civilising process, contributing Guillaume Devin and Marie useful to the reader makes up for this. to the understanding of the concept Claude Smouts, Les Organisations of psychogenesis, whose basis can be internationales (Paris, Armand Colin, In the second part of the book, the found in developmental psychology. 2011). roles of international organisations are examined through questions of Nina Wilen both their functions and their use – knowledge of human beings and social life, aiming to integrate different which browses through the different sciences. Its starting point is, on the one classical theoretical approaches used hand, the relation between the theory in writing a comprehensive book about international organisations psychology of development and, on without presenting one organigramme historical heritage, underlining the throughout the volume. In contrast to constant evolution of both the identities the problem of knowledge. Weiler and the contexts of the international (p. 9) considers the social sciences models and structures may suggest organisations.1 It is also here that their a vague and somewhat redundant strongest argument on the never-ending large diversity of paradigms, which, presentation of international evolution and re-construction of the according to her, reveals a certain organisation, this step away from traditional textbooks is surprisingly refreshing for the reader and also proof socio-historical perspective from author considers it urgent that there be of the transversal analysis of not just the constructivist approach, the a discussion of knowledge in social one or two IOs, but of international sciences, attempting to come up with organisations as a phenomenon in itself. an alternative to relativist tendencies links of interdependence as crucial Without diverting from the main for understanding international (p. 14), which are perceived behind subject, the 250-page volume takes organisations. Although the argument the readers on a socio-historic voyage is convincing, the differentiation from In this regard, the author starts with through the birth, the role and the constructivism could be clearer. The psychogenetic research, a strategy evolution of international organisations, second chapter investigates the triangle developed by Elias, whose purpose is in three parts. The book starts with a of representativeness, legitimacy thorough analysis of how international organisations have been created, welcome look at the international civil knowledge producers. constructed and evolved through servants inside the organisations (p. history, with empirical examples of 80), which are often overlooked. It also The essay by Gina Zabludovsky provides an evaluative analysis of the focuses on the discussion of the to illustrate this. True to their socio- individual and individualisation in historical perspective, the various historical perspective, arguing that examples are put into their historical in this respect is confronted by the situation, underlining the importance most likely contribute to a more just, conceptions of individual and society raison consolidated and peaceful world. In in classical theory, and the proximity d’être. Although the many historical the third chapter the authors recognise examples in chapter 2 may at times instrumentalisation, socialisation and contemporary theory on subjects such seem redundant, the authors make use legitimisation as common ways for as individualisation, globalisation and of them by integrating them into the international actors to use international risk society. organisations where the part on The short chapter on the typologies socialisation appears to be the most Other essays in this book, such as of the organisations emphasises the innovative through its division into those by Ademir Gebara and Federico two different categories: learning Benninghoff, aim to explore further and appropriation where the idea of where heterogeneity and multiplicity rethinking major questions through the

8 Figurations Issue No.39 August 2013 conceptual framework proposed by IO and critical stance, for example FiguratioNal JourNals comes out as the main point. when analysing the two institutions human Figurations: long- In the third part of the book devoted is a humiliation that all countries try term Perspectives on the to the evolution of international human condition, vol. 2, very candid way of analysing profound no. 2, July 2013: http:// attempt to unmask the power issues that gives the book its appeal. quod.lib.umich.edu/h/ relations in what is often called In brief, far from being yet another humfig/11217607.0002.2* textbook on the structures and functions concerning the transformation of international organisations, this Katie Liston of multilateralism, details the volume examines and critically ‘The most important thinker that you proliferation, and the transformation analyses international organisations of the different sorts of international as a phenomenon in itself, through organisation to a point where it detailed socio-historical accounts of Michael Banton their constant evolution in a changing book that aims to treat international environment. Yet, although treating IOs organisations in general. At the same as a whole, the authors still manage to time, the unmasking of the intricate and give the reader an in-depth knowledge majorities as the counterparts of complex links and evolutions between, of many of the most important within and outside the international international organisations of today, organisations is impressive. In addition with the notable exception of the immigration that lacks any Staatsvolk. it gives the reader more than just a European Union. This omission is also, perhaps, its only fault. immigrant settlement elsewhere knew – that the powerful states attempt draws from many sources, including Note mass media reporting, the policies of organisations in different ways – and central and local governments and it adds an important perspective 1 In 1995 Guillaume Devin published personal experience of a decline in the through its detailed analysis that an article devoted to ‘Norbert Elias et sense of community with co-ethnics. balances this simplistic picture. In the The reported sense of loss can be chapter consecrated to international in Revue française de science politique explained as a decline in bonding security, the authors show how capital. If majority members share international organisations gradually books, such as Sociologie des relations goals with minority members, this have transformed our vision on security internationales (Paris: La Découverte, can build bridging capital. Research through the paradoxical development La construction européenne into the preferences for association à la Elias, of globalising threats (with Guillaume Courty, Paris: La with co-ethnics could investigate the and individualising the strategies. Découverte, 2010), he also used circumstances in which civic norms are In a socio-historical analysis of the given priority over ethnic norms. commonly known different generations sociology, continuing contributing to of peacekeeping, the progressive diffuse it among academic and student Ryan Powell, ‘The theoretical enlargement of the international concept of the “civilising offensive” Relations in France. (Beschavingsoffensief): Notes on its and clarifying quotation of the book: Abstract: It is over 30 years since the ‘the natural vocation of international theoretical concept of the civilising organisations is to make common, that offensive (het beschavingsoffensief) which appears to be particular to each emerged from Amsterdam and the the authors manage to sum up both the small but important number of studies, role and the function of international primarily focused on the , organisations as such. have applied the concept to various historical civilising projects aimed The last chapter, entitled ‘The at bringing about cultural shifts and inculcating lasting habits in working- provides a glimpse of political economy class populations deemed to be through its profound analysis of the major economical institutions such as recently, a number of UK academics have sought to apply the concept to contemporary concerns related to

Issue No.39 August 2013 Figurations 9 processual concept of involvement cambio: rivista sulle and detachment, conceived as a trasformazioni sociali anno disparate but overlapping UK accounts (highly) variable balance, allows social iii, Numero 5/giugno 2013 have neglected the Dutch origins of the scientists to move beyond the dualities http://www.cambio.unifi.it/ concept. This paper seeks to reconcile Involvement and cmpro-v-p-78.html that neglect in charting the genealogy Detachment provides the foundation of the concept of the civilising for a of language ‘Presentazione: Fare i conti con la offensive. In doing so the paper argues games and a reinvigorated social that a greater appreciation of these science, understood as contributing to theoretical origins and developments the cumulative expansion of the social Gavino Maciocco, ‘Crisi economica, can not only aid a more coherent stock of knowledge. malattie croniche e diseguaglianze nella understanding of the concept and facilitate comparative analyses, but also Richard Kilminster, ‘Critique and Giampaolo Nuvolati, ‘La theory of civilisation and as a tool for oggettivo e soggettivo per la exposing the targeted and stigmatising projects of powerful groups. Drawing negative, one-sided and total critique of on existing studies, the paper also society, which developed in the latter Cristian Campagnaro and Valentina suggests that more nuanced insights on part of the twentieth century out of Porcellana, ‘Il bello che cura: the impact of civilising offensives can the Critical Theory strand of Western Benessere e spazi di accoglienza be gleaned, and greater understanding accrued, by moving beyond the narrow the notion the multiple meanings of conceptualisation of them as projects the much used terms critique and Micol Bronzini, ‘Famiglie in of elites (the established) aimed at critical in sociology and the humanities affanno: una ricerca sui processi less powerful groups (outsiders). The di impoverimento nel Comune di importance of internal pressures and group and peer socialisation relative to civilising offensives are therefore Mara Tognetti Bordogna, ‘Nuove discussed. The paper concludes that is shown to function in overcritique in disuguaglianze di salute: il caso degli the theoretical concept of the civilising particular as a political code word for a offensive offers much potential in generalised commitment to eliminating all forms of unequal power balances Federico Farini, ‘Interpretazione the role of the state in contemporary between interdependent groups, which e mediazione in un sistema di cura neoliberal society, as well as relations are prejudged as subjugation, interculturale: Pratiche di esclusione historically. oppression or domination. Overcritique e pratiche di inclusione dei pazienti is shown to be one-sided, over-abstract, Steven Loyal and Stephen Quilley, destructive and socially iatrogenic, ‘Wittgenstein, Gellner, and Elias: From based on dubious transcendental Nicoletta Bosco and Valeria the of language games to a arguments and overstated to the point Cappellato of absurdity. These drawbacks are illustrated by reference to some of the Abstract: This paper addresses the recent writings of Zygmunt Bauman. Annamaria Perino and Nicole problem of relativism in the social Braida, ‘La transitional care di sciences and the related notion that the Steven Pinker, ‘Decivilisation in the political life of modernising societies necessarily presents a choice between Giovanna Vicarelli regressive/Gemeinschaftlich and From The Better Angels of our Nature: progressive/Gesellshaftlich visions Why Violence has Declined. © 2011 by Temi eliasiani of community and society – between of Viking Penguin Hermann Korte, ‘Norbert Elias at the Jason Hughes and John Goodwin, Marc Joly before his appointment in Leicester of epistemological co-habitation is unsatisfactory. Linking the development of human knowledge to long-term Søren Nagbøl, ‘Elias and Freud on

10 Figurations Issue No.39 August 2013 Elias dossier in sociedade (In the wake of Norbert Elias: An María J. F. Gebara and Marcos A. E Estado Florczak aproximaciones entre el pensamiento The autumn 2012 issue of the journal , ‘ físico y el pensamiento sociológico Sociedade e Estado Ottoman Gender Boundaries December 2012) contains a special approaches between physics and the section dedicated to Norbert Elias and mid-nineteenth century (La http://www.scielo.br/scielo. género y las categorías sexuales Cas Wouters and Stephen otomanas a mediados del siglo XIX) Mennell, ‘Discussing civilisation 220120003&lng=en&nrm=iso and informalisation: criteriology (Civilización e informalización a The section Reinventar Norbert Elias / Dominic Malcolm and Louise Reinventing Norbert Elias includes: , ‘The quest for exciting below.] knowledge: developments in Andréa Borges Leão and Edson Steven Loyal, ‘Assessing Elias on Farias sport and leisure (La búsqueda del conocimiento emocionante: Desarrollos Norbert Elias en la investigación sociológica neoliberal) Andréa Borges Leão ‘Vamos ao Brasil com Jules Verne?: processos Cas Wouters, “No sex under my othEr rEcENt books aNd articlEs and in the Netherlands since the 1880s Nicole Eustace, Eugenia Lean, Vera Weiler ‘Bases de la adolescente en Estados Unidos y Julie Livingston, Jan Plamper, transformación de el sujeto en proceso William M. Reddy and Barbara H. Rosenwein, ‘AHR Conversation: The Marina Vinha, Maria Beatriz American Cas Wouters ‘Como continuaram os Rocha Ferreira and Adir Casaro Historical Review processos civilizadores: rumo a uma Nascimento, ‘Espacios de ocio en e a uma personalidade de terceira This is a transcription of a long and important conversation between six leading American historians who Enio Passiani specialise in the historical study abaixo do Equador?: algumas of . Elias is mentioned considerações sobre o processo de Amanda Rohloff by Barbara Rosenwein, although civilising and decivilising processes? there is little evidence that any of the participants has read any of morales como procesos civilizatorios On the Process of Edson Farias ‘Personalidade artística y descivilizatorios? Un debate Civilisation, nor any of the voluminous comparativo). tradition. Nevertheless, all Eliasians Ilan Lew, “Barbarity” and should read this discussion. “Civilisation” according to perpetrators of state violence during the last Dieter Reicher, Nationensport und special issue of Política y Mediennation: Zur Transformation sociedad von Nation und Nationalismus im la violencia de estado durante la última Zeitalter elektronischer Massenmedien Política y Sociedad, Número Especial/ dictadura argentina). Tras la estela de Norbert Elias/ In the Wake of Norbert Elias, 50 Horacio González López, Irene (2), 2013. Organizado por/Edited by Marquina Sánchez and Celia Cristina Contreras Asturias, ‘La This book is the published version of Civilidad en las castas veladas del Habilitationschrift at Graz. Fernando Ampudia de Haro and Raúl Sánchez García, ‘Tras la estela Reicher makes original contributions de Norbert Elias: Una introducción to several normally distinct areas

Issue No.39 August 2013 Figurations 11 of sociology: the study of sport, Tom Gibbons. ‘The relationship somehow signals the emergence of a nationalism, globalisation, the mass between English national habitus and media and public opinion, habitus and is not supported by the research identity formation, emotions, war and thesis, Teesside University, 2013. International Relations. One very valuable aspect of the book observable from the studies conducted. is his comprehensive theoretical Future research is required in order discussion of a whole range of theorists academics, journalists and politicians to provide comparative empirical have regarded the increasing use of evidence on the relationship between English national habitus and fandom in selectively on them for concepts that and those formed by fans in relation to cogently when he considers them to empirical evidence to substantiate other sports. have taken wrong turnings. Among the this assertion, meaning it has been theorists used or referred to, one can constructed as a myth. Drawing most Cas Wouters and Stephen Mennell, list among others Benedict Anderson, ‘Discussing Civilisation and Política advocated by Norbert Elias, who argued y Sociedad for the sociologist to be a ‘hunter of subsuming them into the category What is Sociology?, civilising processes has been received to explore the precise nature of the sociology of Norbert Elias and the relationship between English national the obstacles being the absence of research tradition that has emerged habitus and football fandom and to challenge the emergence of this alleged this century this situation was changed clearly in the illuminating models of stages of development, dealing Considering the present-centred The American Civilizing Process with sport in relation to identity and nature of much previous research Sex and Manners habitus, and with sport and states in the on the ways in which the English (2004) and Informalization changing structure of the public sphere. national press have represented 2012, Randall Collins had reviewed the These models – and others that are used Englishness via football, and the lack in a more implicit way – are examples of empirical research assessing the (2009, 2011). of what Johan Goudsblom has called actions and opinions of English fans themselves, the thesis involved the orders, in which earlier stages are following three interrelated research and informalisation theory are studies: an examination of historical discussed in this paper by placing them for development towards later stages. representations of Englishness within in the context of the reception history Another important consequence of this English national press coverage of the kind of phaseology in human social English national team between 1950 development is that the earlier stages criteria to be used for determining generally do not disappear, but can the direction of civilising processes. exist in niches alongside subsequently A second round was in the 1990s, dominant models. In the present case, and, a fourteen-month participant and in this paper we contribute to a this is demonstrated in the revealing observation study of an online fan new round by presenting a summary community. of earlier critical discussions in an attempt to establish a more solid and subtler body of criteria for studying mediatisation (in the communications notions of ‘Changes in the we–I civilising processes. We use this rather than political sense of the word) of sport consistently illuminating. contributions, linking them to symbolic demonstrates the effectiveness of interactionism, American National Eliasian sociology more broadly. It Ideology, and blind spots in American is concluded that the relationship sociology. between English national habitus and football fandom is more multi- , ‘El problema de la faceted than previous research has contended. The assertion that the rise of freedom in Norbert Elias in dialogue Cross amongst English football fans Revista Española

12 Figurations Issue No.39 August 2013 de Investigaciones Sociológicas 142 Additionally, the adoption of the Abstract: After the ‘discovery of Eliasian position concerning the balance between involvement and of parenthood is badly needed today. Abstract: This paper focuses on the detachment addresses some of the social theory of freedom proposed by challenges that come with researching child-centered families and child- Norbert Elias, as opposed to classic (sub)cultures that are as controversial decentered societies the position of philosophical views. Firstly, it analyses and divisive (in an aesthetical sense) parents has come under enormous the basic features of the metaphysical as heavy metal. The seemingly chaotic pressure. This can only be understood theories of freedom which Elias rejects. if parenthood, itself becomes an object Then the key points on which Norbert heavy metal subculture represent an of sociological interest. To describe interesting context in which to explore parenthood the theory of socialisation based are developed. Finally, two Eliasian concepts concerning civilising offers various concepts, but it cannot Eliasian classic empirical examples processes and the increasing social explain the long-term psychogenetic constraint towards self-restraint or and sociogenetic development of self-steering. I draw from empirical parenthood in different societies over is intended to show that Elias has a time. For the description of parenthood as a basic process of human societies, debate about freedom, especially within civilising processes (Dolan, 2005), promising concepts can be found in neuroscience. sportisation (Elias and Dunning, 2008a) and technisation trends (Elias, 2008a). the civilising process. Following this Gary Sinclair In doing so, I explain how heavy metal approach, the essay outlines some of its heavy metal subcultural control: music concepts: the habitus of parenthood and different fan spaces are co-constructed the corresponding ideals of parenthood, Unpublished PhD thesis, Dublin through a combination of subcultural balances of shame with regard to Institute of Technology, 2013. parenthood, the changing balances spaces are used to facilitate a sense of of power and shame regarding the Abstract: Despite the longevity, cultural comradeship and generate cathartic positions of children and parents within relevance and global popularity of experiences, as the fans engage in a family and society. heavy metal, it has been noticeably absent from both the Birmingham Désirée Waterstradt, of the heavy metal experience is der Elternschaft: Die Gesichte eines dependent on the visibility and parenthood – the history of a high– contexts informed by post-subcultural the successful enforcement of the perspectives (‘neo-tribes). This study subcultural fan code. The dynamics of Staatshilfe examines the Irish for example, heavy für Eltern: Brauchen wir das metal scene. The literature review the unique modes of behaviour, and Betreuungsgeld? considers the problematic aspects of the communication and interpretation applying both frameworks (subcultural of different symbols within the scene and post-subcultural) to heavy metal are analysed with regard to how status and other similar contexts. I argue that and subcultural capital is displayed. Abstract: This essay attempts to give Fundamentally, I argue that the ability some background on the development (relatively underutilised in previous of the fans to adapt their behaviour of the power balances of parenthood in consumer research), can be used to Germany and what would be needed bypass the agency–structure dualism evolving subcultural code is dependent to strengthen parenthood. It shows that impedes both approaches. It is on their ability to self-steer. The also advanced that such a perspective analysis contemplates the breakdown can become incorporated into the of the subcultural code, the lack of of the family, but also for other wider consumer culture theory (CCT) restraint demonstrated in the online framework. spaces, and the retreat of what have functions of parenthood. Especially become unacceptable modes of interesting seems to be the relatedness Data was collected through a of the changeful German nation– combination of interviews, participant the virtual social scene. building process and parenthood in observation of live events, and Germany. observation of Irish fan forums. Désirée Waterstradt, The positioning of the researcher as Aus The article is published in a book on Politik und Zeitgeschichte 49-50 the current German political issue of the ‘Betreuungsgeld’ (child care studies and increasingly common oder-zivilisierung-der-eltern

Issue No.39 August 2013 Figurations 13 summer, parents in Germany will have Annette Treibel, ‘“Frauen sind nicht explores the formation and development the enforceable right to a place in a of two military cultures with respect to nursery school for their children. As the following themes: social origins, there are not enough nursery schools Erde, selbst wenn sie sich manchmal transformative events, leadership, in Germany and there will be elections approaches to war, technology, and collective identity. In the conclusion, the and Christine Weinbach (eds), book considers the impact of the War on about this gap in demand and supply Zeitgenössische Gesellschaftstheorien of child care. The ‘Betreuungsgeld’ is und Genderforschung: Einladung and the UK, as well as likely directions planned to be paid out to those parents zum Dialog for the future. who do not send their children to nursery school before age of three. The Enrique Guerra Manzo, Breve book tries to explain the background (Online) introducción al pensamiento de as well as the pros and cons of the Norbert Elias ‘Betreuungsgeld’. The intention of the Abstract: With respect to feminist book is to address broader publics, so approaches, sociology in the tradition that there is no quotation and only some general literature is listed. Norbert Elias conceived of sociology as to be innocent. Within a long-term a mission, with the capacity to account Franklin Hugh Adler, ‘The perspective though, the continuing for how human beings behave in social Telos: inequalities seem not as crucial as the Critical Theory of the Conteporary heterogeneous progresses concerning help them to control the unforeseen education, role models and biographical consequences of their actions (such as options for both men and women. wars, mass deaths). While important contemporary sociologists (Parsons, challenges to civility in Europe raised by the presence of sizable immigrant neglecting the mutual interdependencies history and lent support to the image of communities, which, unlike those of of men and women – within and the homo clausus, Elias never gave up between the different hetero-, homo- from host populations in terms of and transsexual settings. The article long-term processes and on the image national origin, race, religion, ethnicity, of homines aperti. Elias developed a and culture. Coming principally well to the remarkable changes of sociology that represents a Copernican from former colonial territories, private and everyday relationships and Revolution in the basic assumptions their otherness additionally bears the less to the continuity of discrimination, of conventional sociology. This book deep historical imprint of inferiority sexism and violence. Female and – to offers a comprehensive exegesis of the and subordination, merited or not, an above average extent – male process work of Elias, not only his intellectual to the degree that to Europeans they sociologists are interested in the power trajectory, but the ways in which he sometimes appear to be, at worst, struggles and balances in contemporary began to extend, test and develop his uncivilised, or, at best, to live in another societies concerning gender. In the long ideas through his own research. non-European or semi-European run, changes towards more egalitarian world. Though they inhabit the structures are happening slowly, but Derrick Fiedler, ‘The Courtisation same geographical space as the host they are happening – and they deserve population, and have become an more attention in gender research and enduring component of the European social theories than they are getting up labour force, their broader integration to this time. into European life remains problematic the Investigation of Social Sciences 1:1 Alastair Finlan, Contemporary (June 2010). public, such that political parties of the Military Culture and Strategic [URL: www.jforward.org/June 2010/ far right, occasionally resurgent, have Studies (Abingdon: Routledge 2013). made immigration a predominant issue for the past 30 years. Abstract: This article begins from the This book explores and compares observation that in the late sixteenth [Note: An excerpt from an interview the contemporary military cultures and early seventeenth centuries there with Elias conducted by Franklin was a relatively sudden proliferation Adler, Peter Ludes and Paul Piccone Kingdom. Western military forces have of manuals and treatises on the in Bloomington, IN, in 1982, will been engaged in continuous military proper conduct of diplomacy and be published in Interviews and operations since the century began. It diplomats. This is indicative of the (Dublin: is therefore now apt to focus on the crisis in Europe during this period, UCD Press, autumn 2013 {Collected military cultures of these state-based in which relations between dynastic armies, navies and air forces. The book states became especially problematic

14 Figurations Issue No.39 August 2013 and permanent diplomacy became wider structures of interaction and Ryan Powell “ghetto” and ethnic minority manuals regarding manners were collaboration with sociology, history segregation in the UK: the neglected indicative of a certain kind of formative and anthropology and bringing back process – conceptualised by Norbert traditional notions and toolkits from other social sciences in order to better Regional Research too, I argue, are these diplomatic understand an emerging European pp.115–34. institution–society nexus. of formative process, in diplomatic the emergence of the early modern John Flint and Ryan Powell, ‘The an analytical tool in understanding the state, with its techniques of regulation, English city riots of 2011, “Broken marginal and ambivalent position of subjectivised its populations, so too was Britain” and the retreat into the Gypsy-Traveller populations resident the state itself undergoing a formative Sociological Research Online, on sites (or camps) in Britain. The process in the conceptualisation and paper argues that the fruitful work of regulation of its international relations. quantitative geographers on ethnic Unlike the citizenry, however, the segregation in the UK has neglected states were subjectivised without also Abstract: The responses to the English Gypsy-Travellers. It suggests that being subjugated – unlike the courtly city riots of 2011 bear a remarkable the theoretical concept of the ghetto nobility, who were subject to the higher resemblance to those of historical can elucidate the ways in which the authority of their king, the ambassadors urban disorders in terms of the way in spatial marginality of sites serves were the representatives of sovereign which they are framed by concerns over and competing states. In addition to theoretical exposition, a textual analysis of one of the more prominent sections of the population. In this paper to the stigmatised Gypsy-Traveller diplomatic manuals of the period, The we draw on the work of Norbert Elias population. Key characteristics in Ambassador and take a long-term perspective in exploring historical precedents and shown to hold true for Gypsy-Traveller parallels relating to urban disorder and sites such as: ethnic homogeneity, on this single text, and situating it anti-social behaviour. We reject the historically and theoretically, I aim to identity, mutual distancing and a indicate the ways in which the forms of retreat into the private sphere of the thought expressed in it are symptomatic necessary in order to appreciate that family. This comparison also reveals perceived crises of civilisation are key differences in terms of economic ubiquitous to the urban condition. function, parallel institutionalism and Didier Georgakakis and Julien Through this historical analysis, framed the relationship with the state. The Weisbein, ‘From above and from paper points to the potential offered by below: A political sociology of detachment, we present three key Comparative arguments. Firstly, that a ‘retreat into dismissal of the ghetto concept within European Politics (2010) 8, pp. the UK ignores its power as a tool of 93–109. policy discourse and comparison. The paper suggests that in responding to contemporary urban qualitative and theoretical approaches Abstract: The aim of the article is to disorder, giving rise to ahistorical should seek to complement the work develop a perspective on EU studies accounts and the romanticisation of of quantitative geographers through centred on social agents, and to assess previous eras; secondly, that particular focusing on everyday social relations its contribution to the understanding moral panics have always arisen, and encounters between ethnic of both the making of an EU political working-class populations and urban – both within and outwith residential disorder; and, thirdly, that previous boundaries. It also questions the urban- This perspective, intellectually techniques of governance to control centred focus of debates on ethnic informed by authors such as Pierre these populations were often far more segregation. Bourdieu or Norbert Elias, provides similar to contemporary mechanisms a way to deepen existing approaches than many commentaries suggest. We and to expand the scope of EU conclude by advocating a long-term, studies in two ways. First, it aims to detached perspective in discerning evaluate the social foundations of the historical precedents and their European integration process through direct linkages to the present; and in a very precise analysis of what social identifying what is particular about actors involved in EU processes think and do considering their position in to urban disorder.

Issue No.39 August 2013 Figurations 15 Arpad Szakolczai, Comedy and the There has been a range of answers become ever more acute in terms Public Sphere: The Rebirth of Theatre of their potential effects as huge as Comedy and the Genealogy of transformations in university funding the Modern Public Arena (London: regimes are brought to bear on the social sciences. But none of these – have focused on the unconscious critiques engages satisfactorily with and symbolic or emphasised the what is a much more foundational The aim of this book is to study the transcendence of materiality rather and serious set of problems, namely constitutive links between comedy and than engagement with social life the very nature of sociology itself as a historically-situated form of knowledge public sphere, considered as ‘a domain attention to the media-constructed of our social life in which such a thing simulacra of reality: ‘a concern with the world around it, but in Britain the material conditions of production today much sociology seriously fails and consumption of mass-media in this regard, because it operates with is isolated from theatrical spectacles, radically curtailed understandings in particular the staging of comedies, of the long-term historical forces work. But Ballard commented on which made the social conditions it and the rise of modern forms of public numerous political and aesthetic purports to analyse. A sophisticated spectacles were strictly interconnected. topics, and developed a reputation for understanding of the contemporary Its study therefore requires a genealogy. perceptive, even prophetic, analysis world is made possible only by an Genealogy is an approach for the of social change, a view perhaps more equally sophisticated understanding study of formative historical events of very long-term historical processes, that was pioneered by Friedrich potential precisely the sort of vision that Nietzsche, and further developed with its limits recalls a methodological mainstream British sociology has approach that has yet to be connected lacked for at least the last two decades. in comparative historical sociology, development of this situation and the consequences it has for the nature of also some of his closest followers like of violence. Without suggesting a Norbert Elias, Eric Voegelin or Franz its self-understanding, for its claims to comprehend the contemporary world, do think they have had overlapping with genealogy. The genealogy of insights into the human condition. A markedly more self-aware and a particular political institution or historically-sensitive sociology is social practice is concerned with the proposed as the answer to the pressing exact manner in which this emerged in the historical and sociological question of what aspects of sociology and the lasting effects it might exert, processes that Elias explained. From should be defended in the turbulent even after it ceased to exist. A joint this perspective, I examine High-Rise context of British higher education genealogy of the modern public sphere Super-Cannes (2000), today. and theatre therefore aims to establish which, although separated by a quarter how the rebirth of theatre in Europe, in the form of comedy as commedia Ottoman gender boundaries and sexual dell’arte, had a decisive role in forming social alienation, violence and human categories by the mid nineteenth both the structured space that is called psychology. Their distinct emphases Politica y Sociedad 50:2 (2013), pp. 381–95. attitudes related to it, even governing thinking: ‘de its functioning and broader effects. Abstract: This research extends the theory of the civilising process of David Inglis, ‘What is worth defending Norbert Elias to the gender issue in John Carter Wood, ‘Going mad is in sociology today? Presentism, the Ottoman Empire and thereby in the only way of staying sane: Norbert historical vision and the uses of some respects provides a test of his Elias and the civilised violence of Cultural Sociology original theory. This study is based on the assumption that the conscious Rowland Wymer (eds.), policy of the Ottoman modernisation Visions and Revisions (Basingstoke: Abstract: In recent years, sociology by the ruling elite exhibited many in Britain – and in national contexts symptoms resembling those of the European civilising process. The socio- been diagnosed by various parties historical process of bureaucratisation as suffering from a wide range of of the Ottoman state fostered the ailments. These forms of self-criticism changes in manners and forms of

16 Figurations Issue No.39 August 2013 cultural expression which brought suggests we need to conceptualise frequently not only in speech, but with it the advance of the threshold habitus in a manner that does not also in writing. Although there are of shame and embarrassment in reproduce the opposition between habit variations in slope and shape in two gender relations during this process. graphs, the conjecture is supported Drawing on this assumption, the concept as a tool to capture variations , as article looks at the changes in the way in how self-monitoring and habit are shown in the attached charts. There is people control themselves and others combined in modes of conduct. some turbulence at the beginning of the in the expression of their impulses and emotions. In turn, the question Stephen Mennell in the German chart, but the downward of how the margins of tolerance in American religiosity from an Eliasian sexual matters and in the expression of Historicka Sociologie charts, suggesting more stable societies. emotions and desires changed during [ In modernisation, perhaps shame itself this civilising process formulates the Historical Social Sciences, Prague], 2 became shameful. It is possible that (2010), pp. 9–29. manuals on etiquette, manners books, an endless series of recursive loops. diaries and archives are the richest Abstract: From a European point of If so, recursion of shame can lead to sources for this purpose, this project view, one of the most puzzling aspects silence and recursion of shame/anger to employs the analysis of these cultural violence. texts, in order to make inferences from proportion of its citizens who assent to the cultural transformations within the belief in the supernatural. In sociology, Jan Kalenda Ottoman Empire. It is hoped that the that has given rise to a debate about research will offer new perspectives whether secularising Europe or the in reorienting the way we look at the development of the Ottoman culture principality: Norbert Elias and the early essay, the work of Norbert Elias is Czech state], Historicka Sociologie sociology. used in an explanatory way to shed [ light on the peculiarities of America. Historical Social Sciences, Prague], Monika Krause and Alexandra Although Elias has often been accused 1–2 (2012), pp. 95–19. Kowalski of neglecting religion in his theory of and rationalised conduct in New York civilising processes, it is argued that his Abstract: This study deals with the Sociological Review closely related sociological theory of (2013), pp. 21–41. knowledge and the sciences is useful in sociogenesis to the case of early Czech this context. state formation. For this purpose, we This paper compares courtship focus on the mechanism sof emergence practices in New York and Berlin and Thomas Scheff, and establishment of the state asks how people act during the course monopoly, as well as on the aspects American Sociological Association: of decentralisation and privatisation romantic partner. The authors build Sociology of Emotions Newsletter, of state power during the reigns of which examines how conduct varies http://www2.asanet.org/Emotions/ across cultural contexts. Drawing newsletters/emotions_newsletter_fall-3. article tries to compare the process of on interviews in both contexts, they pdf] sociogenesis in Western Europe with the dynamics of state formation that Abstract: The sociologist Norbert was typical of the contemporary Czech respondents is more rationalised, The Civilizing Process lands. In this context we claim that as indicated by a greater awareness examines European history from the Elias made several mistakes, because of timing, a greater degree of fourteenth to the twentieth century: he supposed that the features and intentionality and planning and a advice offered in English, German, mechanisms of state formation were greater tendency to psychologise self and French etiquette manuals (for fairly unitary everywhere in Europe. and others. Berlin respondents report example, bedroom, bathroom, dinner). We try to challenge this notion, to show observations of themselves and others On this basis, he proposed that shame that the history of state making in the in less detail and tend to describe replaced force as the main instrument Central European region has many themselves as passive objects of the of social control, but also became autonomous and unique aspects that impersonal forces of love. Whereas increasingly unspeakable. This paper differentiate it from social dynamics conduct associated with dating is more tests the latter conjecture 1800–2000 in in other parts of the continent. From this critical point of view, the article fully conscious or the object of using Google Ngrams. If shame theory for the Central European area. becomes less visible in modernisation, for granted and habitual. The paper then the term itself should occur less

Issue No.39 August 2013 Figurations 17 Joshua Lavie, ‘“Open people”, The leading approach to the explanation of genocide offered 50 years ago by assumption”: bridging concepts suggested that perpetrators were Funzione Gamma [Rivista telematica recruited to mass murder as a result of duress created by powerful state di Roma]. URL: http://www. bureaucracies that forced compliance funzionegamma.it/open-people-homo- out of fear of reprisals. Perpetrators clausus-and-the-5th-basic-assumption- were portrayed as automotons bridging-concepts-between-foulkess- acting out of a banality of evil with and-bions-traditions/ diminished agency. The current book stresses the enthusiastic endorsement Abstract: In this article I have tried to of righteous slaughter frequently bridge the split between the Foulkesian associated with a strong sense of duty and the Bionian traditions, hence and a lack of subjective culpability, overcoming the outworn dispute often in circumstances where the acts between these two theories and of political violence are associated practices. The main hypothesis in as crimes at all. Legal responses based on individual misconduct seem goal, albeit coming from different, incapable of coming to terms with yet complementary, directions. The the collective nature of such crimes. Brett Bowden, Civilization and metaphor which is being used describes War (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Bion and Foulkes as two miners of such crimes the mentality of the digging a tunnel under a river, each perpetrators, the frequency with which of them starting from the opposite the crimes escape criminalisation, bank. Bion and his followers tried to and the staggering consequences in overcome the pathologies of groups terms of mortality and suffering. The considerable baggage, dichotomising which take control over individuals people, cultures, and histories as and abolish their individuality (Basic in Rwanda, and advances a new Assumption Groups), while Foulkes perspective based on Norbert Elias of civilisation has been deployed and his followers tried to overcome and his historical work on impulse throughout history to justify all the pathologies of individuals devoid control and barbarism. The book also manner of interventions and socio- of relational and communal existence examines the various legal and quasi- political engineering, few scholars legal responses to atrocities, including have stopped to consider what the the ad hoc criminal tribunals and hybrid In order to overcome the split between criminal courts, the use of reparations Bowden examines how the idea of these two traditions, I discuss and as a tool in peacemaking, and the civilisation has informed our thinking proliferation of truth commissions in about international relations over transitional societies. While there is the course of ten centuries. From the Basic Assumption in the Bionian/ Crusades to the colonial era to the Tavistockian tradition regarding the key may lie in the renegotiation of the global war on terror, this sweeping psychic condition of individuals in limits of sovereignty in the context of globalisation. stage-managed account of history that social/psychological theory of homo legitimises imperialism, uniformity, clausus This book covers a broad range of and conformity to Western standards, basic assumption in the Foulksian subjects beginning with a re-analysis culminating in a liberal-democratic Group-Analytic tradition regarding global order. Along the way, Bowden the social/psychological condition of experiments, which occurred at the time explores the variety of confrontations individuals (and patients) in groups of of the Eichmann trial in Jerusalem. It and conquests – as well as those modern societies. concludes that they tell us very little peoples and places excluded or swept about real-world perpetrators. The book aside – undertaken in the name of Augustine Brannigan, Beyond the distinguishes the political processes by civilisation. Concluding that the ‘West Banality of Evil: Criminology and which events are successfully labelled Genocide (Oxford: Clarendon Press, as genocide, from the processes that than differences, this provocative explain their occurrence. Although it is and engaging book ultimately points ambitious in scope, the author writes the way toward an authentic inter chapters can be found at URL: http:// with an extremely lucid style that make civilisational dialogue that emphasises cooperation over clashes. oxford_online.pdf] specialists and general readers alike.

18 Figurations Issue No.39 August 2013 to read around the various specialisms is the recurrent observation that perpetrators frequently show no sense of this kind do not aim to replace those place alongside the classical traditions, or remorse or guilt for their murderous venerable works, they merely try to distil feminism, structuration theory, conduct, suggesting that the dynamics a vast body of research into manageable poststructuralism, postmodernism, of this sort of crime are radically form so that students get a feel for what postcolonialism and the rest. sociology has to offer, in advance of offences. making decisions about which bits they will pursue for the next few years. The may not seem particularly exciting Massimo Paci, Lezioni di sociologica bald facts are that Sociology now has 23 or revolutionary, but I suggest it does storica chapters covering established subjects mark an important coming of age – theories and methods, families, crime and deviance, religion, education and introductory textbooks are (as far as health – as well as more recent ones such students are concerned) gatekeepers entitled ‘Norbert Elias: una “psicologia as the environment, war, terrorism, the for and gateways into the discipline storica”, and deals with the vicissitudes life course, globalisation and sexuality. and, though there is a certain frisson But of course, textbooks today do more civilising processes, the opposition to on the long-term development of any individual/society dichotomy, and or so of sociological practice, they also sociology surely derives from the actively engage with readers – and the many advantages of gaining a strong with an excursus on Louis XIV and the seventh edition goes much further in this foothold within the establishment. Thus court at Versailles. the last word must go to Elias (1982: review sections are designed to stretch 38–9): ‘Textbooks indicate what the The main objection one might level at establishment of a particular academic research skills, encourage them to seek comes in Part II, on the ‘classical out original journal articles, books, regard as the essentials of the received historical sociology], before Part III on and other artworks. textbooks often, though not always, ‘the development of modern historical Figurations Figurations. Why should readers of this innovation at the theoretical or the will protest that the continuing newsletter be interested in the book? empirical level has become canonised Well, anyone who teaches sociology as part of the standard knowledge of in English-speaking universities and is a small fault. And, in any case, Elias colleges already knows that Elias and always protested that he was not an Phil Sutton historical sociologist. served by large, scary introductory textbooks. Apart from some pithy Jerome Braun, Democratic Culture comments on the demise of spitting and Moral Character: A Study in From thE author or brief mention of On the Process of Culture and Personality. (Dordrecht): Civilisation as an alternative history of and Philip the rise of the West (ouch!), textbooks W. Sutton, Sociology, 7th Edition barely scratch the surface of the (Cambridge: Polity Press, 2013). xi + research that goes under the general This book returns critical theory to its roots in both psychology and the (pb) sixth edition of Sociology (2009) began social sciences. It shows some of the to rectify this omission and the seventh relationships between equality in a political and social sense and personal actively discourage, the use of general their proper place in the development identity that either relates well to textbooks. Instead, they insist that of, and contemporary practice within, such equality, or rebels against it. All students read sociological work ‘in the discipline. Figurations readers should now be able to browse the text without continually cursing or random change but also processes physically damaging the book. They of social and cultural evolution that will see On the Process of Civilisation themselves have effects regarding of this book demonstrate, sociology alternative (and more productive) public morality. This book provides is an extraordinarily diverse, broad, formulation of the structure–agency a framework to help one study wide-ranging and contested discipline problem, Wouters on informalisation, the interaction between individual and it is quite unrealistic to expect aspirations and social opportunities. new undergraduates (or anyone else) lots more. Figurational sociology is

Issue No.39 August 2013 Figurations 19 Jerome Braun, known for his writings light on its historical antecedents and in interdisciplinary social science, an contemporary times while focusing on played an essential role in rethinking approach he calls pragmatic critical the shifting role of religion and ethics the notion of civilization and culture. theory, here provides a book that [Richard Kilminster comments: discusses issues relevant to the moral Algazi has written one of the most underpinnings of democratic society, original articles on the method of On including issues of social evolution and concept of ethics without moral codex. The Process of Civilisation of culture and personality. seen by anyone outside the immediate This book will be of particular interest bibliograPhical the hermeneutic and psychoanalytic to scholars and students of psychology rEtrosPEct reconstruction I attempted in my Elias (particularly in the areas of political book. Algazi strikes me as scholarly, psychology, psychology of personality Gadi Algazi serious and thorough. I found convincing and cultural psychology), sociology pictures: history, cinema and gestures in his argument that the way in which Elias (especially those interested in sociology Studies in of alienation and sociology of culture, the History and Philosophy of Science, that book was entirely novel and related as well as historical sociology, political 39 (2008): 444–58. to the way in which the motion picture sociology and sociology of mental cinema in the early twentieth century health), anthropology (particularly in On the Process tried to do the same. It was a way of the areas of psychological anthropology of Civilisation involved reconstructing representing movement itself.] and political anthropology), cultural invisible movement – both the slow studies, and social theory as well as tempo of long-term historical change and political theory in general. books rEcEivEd and embodied dispositions. To do this, he Katarzyna Suwada, resorted to uncommon devices: treating These books will be reviewed in w Procesie Cywilizacji: Próba historical texts as constituting a series a future issue of the Figurations interpretacji koncepcji Norberta Eliasa amenable to a rudimentary discourse newsletter and/or in the journal Human [‘Erotic love in the civilising process: analysis, he constructed an imagined Figurations: rving as an Jesus Rimers Moñivas, Los approximation of the hidden process Fundametos de la Sociología de Norbert Elias (Valancia: Tirant supposed to represent single past states, Two basic aims are encompassed but movement itself, its direction and pace. This novel concept of historical one hand, it speaks of the changing representation was related to the Angela Perulli, Norbert Elias: nature of erotic love in the twentieth perception of cinema as a new medium Processi e parole della sociologia making actual movement visible. But about the causes and consequences of beyond making it possible to imagine these shifts. On the other hand, these how one could telescope long-term transformations are inscribed within historical process, cinema also held the Claude S. Fischer, Made in America: the perspective of the civilising process promise of serving as a microscope, A Social History of American Culture theory formulated by Norbert Elias. making the minute movements of the and Character (Chicago: University Thus, the issue of erotic love serves human body, gestures and manners here as a kind of pretext for reference available for close inspection. While to Eliasian sociology – to illustrate his anthropologists were devising ways of social science perspective as well as to using the new medium to document Andrew Deener, Venice: A Contested tell the story of his life which is not so Bohemia in Los Angeles (Chicago: familiar to Polish readers. it was used by popular audiences as a source for remodelling behaviour and acquiring polite manners and body devoted to life of Norbert Elias and his techniques, as noticed by such acute Christian Postberg, Macht und Geld: most important theory of the civilising Über die gesellschaftliche Bedeutung process, in the second part we start to monetärer Verfassungen (Frankfurt am deal with the issue of mentioned in the the cinema gave rise to a heightened title – erotic love. It is here described awareness of the historicity of gestures in the context of contemporary and the changing modalities of their society, which I call, using Anthony transmission. Cinema was itself part of Lars Bo Kaspersen: Denmark the accelerated motion of history, of a in the World perceived change of pace in the process concerns the changing forms of social of civilization, which in its turn shed

20 Figurations Issue No.39 August 2013 Craig Koslofsky, Evening’s Empire: A History of the Night in Early Modern Europe (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011). ix + 424 pp.

rEcENt coNFErENcEs conference ‘habitus, War and civilisation: towards an understanding of the bellicose sides of society’. Helmut Kuzmics Department of Sociology University of Graz Dieter Reicher

Today, inter-state wars have simply disappeared – or been transformed into terrorism or into violent inner-state war (and the potential of it) has lost Twenty years after the breakdown of are acquiring nuclear weapons, a new kind of arm race with conventional weapons can be observed in parts of the world, and popular culture (such as movies and computer-games) is still obsessed with war. Yet 30 years after Convivial group Humana Conditio, it seems that sociology itself has not changed sociology is still concerned with the paradigm of modern society as a peaceful place. Although the forms of war have changed, the phenomenon of organised killing is as widespread have been dealing with the issues of war and violence since the birth of their disciplines, although the analysis of phenomena of collective violence (including wars) played only a comparatively marginal role until around 2000. In the twentieth century, however, social scientists and scholars were not only concerned with warfare and violence as theoretical and/or historical subjects; they also documented the ongoing wars of their time, and they reported about their experiences with violent internal ethnic Stephen Mennell, Jon Fletcher, Andrew Linklater, Barbara Górnicka;

Issue No.39 August 2013 Figurations 21 by the war. There were want to thank the governing mayor of very few families that did not lose a father, inviting the members of the conference a son, or both. The for dinner. And we cordially thank war seemed to leave indelible impressions on the memories of the Johannes Ebner and Barbara Colette survivors, which were to Zitturi for their help before, during and after the conference. in the period between Sabine A. Haring War. In these sessions the ForthcomiNg discussed. coNFErENcEs Jason Hughes presented Brett Bowden with the Norbert Elias Prize sessions – organised the civilising offensive In addition, they sometimes exhibit (het burgerlijk a particular sensibility with regard to facets of popular culture such as beschavingsoffensief): future wars and their prevention. body performances under a gender prospects for future perspective or a new popular food understanding, or an Therefore, the aim of the conference style. The sixth session focused on the obsolete concept? changing faces of war and its symbols. to confront sociological thinking again all these questions; in particular he has and intensively with war and its social been interested in the transformations consequences. Co-conveners: Bernard Kruithof (University of Amsterdam – low intensity wars of nowadays. The last two sessions dealt with the topic of national habitus – as we know an affair had left the very unsettling world of investigating social indicators in his It is over thirty years since the twenties. Austrian habitus he used many different theoretical concept of the civilising sources – literature, of course, songs, offensive (het beschavingsoffensief) emerged from Amsterdam and the Laudatio, in which he During the conference the organisers important number of studies, primarily turned his attention to war, notably focused on the Netherlands, have his major contributions to the study of very important duties or missions: applied the concept to various historical national habitus, popular culture and civilising projects aimed at bringing the use of literature as sociological about cultural shifts and inculcating evidence. and the second mission was to celebrate lasting habits in working-class precious human being and as a very belonging to the inner circle of a good cordial friend. And sincere thanks number of UK academics have sought sociology of International Relations. are given to all of you for coming to to apply the concept to contemporary It dealt with the different forms of Graz and turning this conference into concerns related to welfare and social violence and warfare through the ages an unforgettable event. and different spaces. The second und populations perceived to be in need the third sessions emphasised the For the organisation of a conference overlapping UK accounts have World Wars for collective memory and support. First of all, we want to thank neglected the Dutch origins of the their consequences for the emotional the Elias Foundation for its material concept. life of different groups and generations. and moral support. Further we want to The First World War was an industrial, thank our Vice-Rector for Research, This symposium seeks to bring together but also a democratic, war. There was a small number of academics from hardly a single family in Germany, Franz Voves, and the Association for the Netherlands and the UK who have France, Britain or Austria that was (or are) engaged with the theoretical not directly and/or indirectly affected for sponsoring the conference. We also concept of the civilising offensive.

22 Figurations Issue No.39 August 2013 From the Past to the Outsiders; Quest for Excitement; In addition to a series of postgraduate Present and towards workshops and keynote presentations Possible Futures: the on these and related central concerns, collected Works of Norbert Elias Despite its focus on the Collected Works of Elias, the spirit of this event is key works as follows: College Court, one of openness to, and dialogue with, competing sociological positions. It will pose questions including: On the Process of Civilisation Call for Papers Civilising processes, decivilising ‘One cannot ignore the fact that every employed to address some of the present society has grown out of earlier challenges of the human sciences in Violence, war, terror and international societies and points beyond itself to a relations in long-term developmental diversity of possible futures.’ perspective narrow sense: he aimed at a grand ‘Today we have basically lost the ability sociological, historical, relationships to think of a future. Most people do not psychological synthesis. Did he Critiques, revisions and extensions to want to go beyond their present – they succeed? do not like to see themselves as a link (Contributors may also wish to refer in the chain of generations.’ – Norbert work provide a means of to related works, such as The Court redressing the fragmentation of the human sciences and, especially, reintegrating sociologists who have Formation and National Identity) of the Collected Works of Norbert intellectually migrated to different, Elias in English will be published by increasingly diverse, specialisms and What is Sociology? University College Dublin Press. sub-disciplines? and theoretical debates about them The mammoth undertaking, in association with the Norbert Elias Foundation, Amsterdam, and under have in the more general ‘relational Game models and relational thinking of discussion in recent years? individuals to fruition. It brings together the entire (Contributors may also wish to refer many writings previously unpublished – marked by its emphasis of Individuals and Essays III: On or not hitherto translated into English, on long-term processes and its faithfully representing his core ideas caution regarding the intrusion and his overall sociological position. Essays I: The Sociology of Knowledge institutional demands for short-term and the Sciences The conference marking the completion of the whole project will increasing emphasis on the establishments appropriately be held at the University short-term practical and monetary of Leicester, where Elias lived and Problems of method and methodology Unplanned long-term processes versus planning and policy University of Leicester, and recognises Prospects for a grand synthesis of the widespread, international and sociology, and indeed, more history, psychology and the social interdisciplinary interest in his work, explicitly politically-involved and sciences and its resurgence within the University and more generally within the human (Contributors may also wish to refer to sciences. related works, such as Involvement and Craig Calhoun, Director of the London give the opening address. Quest for Excitement The conference is organised around Work, leisure and consumption Process of Civilisation; What is Gender, power and identities in the spare time spectrum

Issue No.39 August 2013 Figurations 23 The Established and the Outsiders Xviii isa World coNtributioNs to Community studies and community coNgrEss oF FiguratioNs relations sociology: FaciNg The next issue of Figurations will be Blame and praise gossip in the aN uNEqual World – mailed in January 2014. News and formation of communities challENgEs For global notes should be sent by 1 November Developments in established–outsider sociology relations theory norberteliasfoundation.nl. Ethnicity, migration and locality Abstracts of no more than 500 words Pre-registration for the World Congress for the conference should be submitted is already open. In order to be included to the conference organisers, John in the programme participants Dublin 4, Ireland. (presenters, chairs, discussants etc.) need to pay registration fees by 1 April not later than 31 December, 2013 2014. Associate Editor: Dr Katie Liston, Abstracts must: Figurations are of Ulster, Newtownabbey, County the conference themes (and specify preferred stream) and/or Research Committee 20 of their planned sessions (including presentations will be in English Vertigans, Robert van Krieken, Fumiya Onaka, José Esteban Castro and norberteliasfoundation.nl Abstracts received after the closing date will not be considered. Registration for the conference will open 3 February WG02 – www.isa-sociology.org/ 2014. congress2014/wg/wg.php?n=WG02 RC20 – www.isa-sociology.org/ congress2014/rc/rc.php?n=RC20 Closing date for the online submission America). of paper abstracts for these sessions is Contributions should preferably be e-mailed to the Editor in the form of stoP PrEss Joop Goudsblom just informed us that the journal Amsterdam Social reluctantly. Photographs should be submitted in JPEG format. anthropologist Femke Brandt, ‘An imaginary dinner-table conversation on trophy hunting between Norbert Elias Netherlands. can be found at http://socialscience. nl/2012/11/28/4_2_complete/ Netherlands.

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24 Figurations Issue No.39 August 2013