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Newsletter of the Norbert Elias Foundation

PEOPLE CONTENTS Quentin Deluermoz on 21 June 2018 defended his People 1 habilitation thesis, ‘Ordres et désordres au XIXe siècle (France, Europe, empires): une histoire sociale et From the Norbert Elias Foundation 2 culturelle, avec un mémoire original intitulé Commune(s), 1870–1871. Une traversée des mondes au XIXe siècle.’ The jury, at the Sorbonne, was composed of Sylvie Aprile In the media 2 (U. Paris-Nanterre), Hélène Blais (ENS-Ulm), Christophe Charle (U. Paris 1, garant), Anne-Emmanuelle Demartini On the traces of Norbert Elias in Paris 3 (U. Paris 13), Richard Drayton (King’s College London), and Vincent Robert (U. Paris 1).

Letters to the editor 4 FROM THE NORBERT ELIAS Flensburg’s Norbert Elias Center for FOUNDATION Transformation Design & Research: Board members dinner with Civilising Society’s Relations to Nature? 5 Joop Goudsblom

Gianfranco Poggi’s personal account of meeting The Board of the Norbert Elias Foundation, together with Arjan Post (Secretary), met on January 13, 2018 Norbert Elias in 1963 6 in Amsterdam. Among the current and future activities of the Foundation that were discussed was the new Review essays: Hans Peter Waldhoff and website. Currently under construction, it will contain Christien Brinkgreve 7 several new features, videotaped interviews with members of the Norbert Elias network among them. More information will be available later this year. Figurational journals online 8 In the evening, the Board hosted a special dinner in Recent books and articles 9 honour of Joop Goudsblom, one of the original founders and long-standing Board members of the Foundation. The Board expressed its profound gratitude to Joop Bibliographic retrospect 15 for his long-term engagement with, and his numerous activities for the Foundation over a period of well over Recent conferences 16 three decades. Joop not only presided over the Board from the beginning, his publications, lectures and other activities played a central role in the rediscovery and Forthcoming conferences 18 belated recognition of Norbert Elias’s work, and in the emergence of a research network of figurational or process sociology.

Issue No.49 July 2018 Figurations 1 During the dinner conversation, make suggestions for unnamed bridges. guest lectures at the university. Not salient episodes in Joop’s career came The bridge, deep in the south of the long after that, it was Joop Goudsblom up. He had first heard about Norbert park (for the exact location, see: and Maarten Brands who endeavoured Elias in 1951 in a course given by his https://tools.wmflabs.org/osm4wiki/ to appoint him as professor. In 1990 he sociology professor Ari Den Hollander cgi-bin/wiki/wiki-osm.pl?project= died, at the age of 93, in the upstairs at the University of Amsterdam. After nl%26article%3DFile%253AAmst apartment where he had been receiving reading a highly favourable review by erdam_bridge_453%252C_view_3. many colleagues and friends, and where the Dutch essayist Menno ter Braak, jpg), is one to be proud of. It is one he had an unusually high output. he borrowed Uber den Prozess der the most beautiful bridges, a true In April this year the Norbert Elias Zivilisation from the library and read national monument and built in a Foundation organised a small ceremony it. Originally published before the Victorian style out of wrought iron. to celebrate the naming of the bridge. war, Ter Braak’s review was reprinted For the municipality holds Elias as a Professor Giselinde Kuipers of the in his collected works, which Joop great sociologist, but also as a famous University of Amsterdam gave a speech read eagerly when he was a student.* inhabitant of Amsterdam. in which she showed her indebtedness Not long afterwards, in 1956, he met to Elias and remembered him as a Norbert Elias in person. The encounter It is very likely Elias crossed the bridge refugee and an exile that eventually took place at the third conference many times, when he had his daily found its home in Amsterdam. of the International Sociological walks in the park. The last twenty Secretary to the Foundation Arjan Association in Amsterdam. Many years of his life he lived upstairs Post typified Elias’s work as being full more would follow and over the from Joop and Maria Goudsblom in of bridges, and a quartet played two years Goudsblom and Elias became Viottastraat. Before that, already in pieces of the music of Mozart Elias good friends (see Johan Goudsblom, the 1960s, Elias had been a frequent loved so much and about which he ‘Guides on my way to Norbert Elias’, visitor to Amsterdam when he gave wrote a probing case study. After that, Human Figurations, 5 (2) 2016). the visitors jointed in a walk to the bridge, where a representative of the More about this history is evoked in municipality officially opened it. the first volume of Joop’s memoirs, Geleerd. Memoires 1932–1968 As only a few Dutch people know that (Learned. Memoirs 1932–68). They Almere, in the suburban agglomeration were published in the Netherlands in of Amsterdam, already had a Norbert 2016, and reviewed with great interest Elias road. Its location, somewhat and appreciation. Joop is currently uncomfortably, is diagonally opposite working on the second volume. the Hannah Arendt street, between They will be about the period since the Émile Durkheim street and – a bit 1968, when he became professor closer to Wahlverwandtschaft – the of sociology at the University of Max Weber street. Amsterdam, a position he held until retirement in 1997. Arjan Post

Johan Heilbron IN THE MEDIA * Ter Braak’s review, and his earlier comment on Elias’s essay on ‘The Elias makes the final of kitsch style and the age of kitsch’, University Challenge have now been translated into English by Robert van Krieken and published University Challenge is a high-level in Human Figurations 7: 1 (2018). See general knowledge quiz broadcast on https://quod.lib.umich.edu/h/humfig/1 British television since 1963, played 1217607.0007.1*?rgn=full+text between teams of undergraduates from British universities. The 2018 final, broadcast on BBC2 television on 23 The Norbert Elias bridge April, was contested between teams naming ceremony from Merton College, Oxford and St John’s College, Cambridge. The team The famous Vondelpark in Amsterdam from St John’s won by 145 points to now has its Norbert Elias Bridge. 100, but along the way they faced a Thanks to the resolute efforts of round of three questions under the Willem Kranendonk, who made use of heading ‘Sociology’, all of which they the opportunity that the municipality failed to answer. In Gordon Fyfe’s of Amsterdam offers residents to paraphrase, they were:

2 Figurations Issue No.49 July 2018 1. What German word did Tönnies use a popular gathering point for refugees. Herz. They were collaborating with to mean community? (their answer was On the upper floors were aisles with a Ludwig Turek in manufacturing toy Gesellschaft!) bank of small rooms; they were only elephants, which they hoped to sell 2. Which German born sociologist divided from each other by a thin (Korte, p. 204). Elias, who had some wrote about the growth of a code wall, which offered almost no sound experience in sales from his time back of manners in his 1939 work The insulation. Despite advertising the in Breslau, tried to pass the products Civilizing Process? (no answer) rooms as being with ‘many comforts’ to customers – with limited success. 3. Which sociologist born in Erfurt is – specified as ‘baths, telephones Turek later gave a description in his best known for the controversial 1905 and lift’ – this hotel was in fact not memoirs about ‘a fairly large number work wrote The Protestant Ethic and a place to feel very homely. It was, of the emigrants who were the flying the Spirit of Capitalism? (their answer: like other places for refugees, a kind merchants. They ran from door to Engels!) of last resort with limited comfort. door with things that were basically Alfred Glucksmann, who visited him in abundance to buy’ (Turek, 105). This story prompts two reflections: there, was ‘horrified by the destitute According to Turek, whose statement (1) In spite of the team’s lamentable condition’ in which he was living we cannot confirm by other sources, ignorance, it is something of a triumph (Glucksmann, p. 55). ‘the chubby warm nest of little people that the name of Elias is now mentioned was mainly in Montparnasse. There by the quiz-setters in the same breath Elias probably lived at the place they were to be found day and night in as Tönnies and Max Weber; and (2) In together with the sculptor Maurice the large cafés, where they lived in their view of the teams’ staggering (to me) knowledge of very esoteric aspects of astronomy, physics, chemistry, microbiology and (sometimes) literature, it is an indictment of sociologists that knowledge even of the simplest aspects of their discipline is so low.

SJM

ON THE TRACES OF NORBERT ELIAS IN PARIS

Adrian Jitschin It is known that Elias lived in Paris from October 1933 until August 1935, but it had remained mostly unclear where he stayed and in which The building in which Elias lived can be seen on the right of this undated postcard. ON the ground environment of the metropolis he lived. This has become clearer over the course of the last year.

We learned from the correspondence that Elias had with Max Horkheimer that he had a permanent residence at the Hotel New-Parnass, 69 Boulevard de Vaugirard. Coincidently there was a business card of this hotel in the Norbert Elias papers, giving details about the place. The building was next to the Gare Montparnasse and the Cimetière du Montparnasse, where Émile Durkheim, Sartre and Aron are buried, and in walking distance from the Sorbonne and the Jardin du Luxembourg, where most probably the famous pictures of Elias by Gisèle This is how the place looks now. The building on the right with the hotel sign is currently at the spot Freund were taken. On the ground where the original building stood in which Elias lived in the 1930s. The Boulevard Pasteur in the floor of the hotel was the Café Tabac, foreground leads to the Eiffel Tower about 1 km away.

Issue No.49 July 2018 Figurations 3 Ausweg, in which he was able to publish interest has been of particular interest his two articles on the kitsch style and to me as he interviewed me for my the expulsion of the Huguenots (see undergraduate place at Leeds and was Täubert and Kroll, p. 316). my teacher. In one of our meetings he was very pleased to present me with These 22 months comprise a rather a copy of his then recently written untypical period in the life of Elias, article ‘The phenomenon of Norbert a phase in which he was forced to Elias’, which was as I remember very live close to people from other social respectful of Elias and his contribution. classes and other kinds of self-control. It came to an end when he had the I have always admired Brian Jackson This business card from the Elias papers gives opportunity to settle in England. and Dennis Marsden’s Education details about the rooms. Most importantly is the Nevertheless, Elias remained so and the Working Class (1962). information that the rooms started at 20 Francs, Francophile that he continued his work Their analysis resonated with my hich made it one of the cheaper places at Paris. on French civilisation which he had own experience of attending Leeds begun in Paris. University. I found their account large family and cried tears of joy when of how difficult it can be for many a brother, whom they had not seen for of those from so-called ‘working- a long time and whom they believed to References class’ backgrounds who succeed have disappeared, suddenly reappeared educationally very poignant. In making safely. There they were disgusted and Korte, H., On Norbert Elias – this move into more individualised, snorted when an enemy sipped his café Becoming a Human Scientist. cold ‘middle class’ networks of crème in the vicinity. At night they Wiesbaden 2017. interdependencies, I found myself crept in at two o’clock, when hunger Taubert, K.; Kroll, F.: Klaus-Mann- experiencing significant dissonance as would not let them sleep, to somehow Schriftenreihe 4 (1): 1933–1934: I engaged with long-term aloneness, make the necessary two francs for a Sammlung der Kräfte. Wiesbaden 1992. a style of living for which my coffee and a croissant from the cross. Turek, L., Klar zur Wende. Berlin 1949. collectivised habitus had ill-prepared There they expected at lunchtime that a Glucksmann, M., ‘A contingent me. In addition, my accent was wrong, benefactor said at the right time, “Come transmission of sociology: encounters I was not sure what to do at sherry on, let’s go eat!”. It is unclear whether with Norbert Elias’, Humanities parties, I came across spaghetti that Turek included Elias in the description Research 3: 1 (1999), 55–61. was not on toast and made by Heinz, when he talked about these ‘little and was unaware of why books were people’ in exile (Turek, p. 102). important. It is not at all surprising that During his time in Paris, Elias renewed LETTER TO THE EDITOR so many who find themselves in this old friendships and established new situation drop out. contacts. He already knew Gisèle Dear Editor, Freund, who had been a doctoral Whilst these points are specifically candidate at Frankfurt under Karl I would like to reiterate my thanks about my experiences I believe they Mannheim, and he helped her out to Ryan Powell, Sarah Biggins and can help understand why there has been to get a doctoral degree from the all those involved in setting up and such resistance to Elias’s ideas. By University of Paris. In 1934 he was running the conference in Leeds on taking such an innovative approach able to establish a contact with Célestin 5–6 April in celebration of Richard Elias was stretching his bonds with his Bouglé, who held the chair of sociology Kilminster [see conference report network of sociological contemporaries at the Sorbonne, and his assistant below – ed.]. It was moving to see so to an extent that he was bound to attract Raymond Aron, who was working on many people expressing their gratitude resistance. However, by demanding a a book about sociology in Germany. for his remarkable contribution to radical shake-up of those back home Together they were able to support Eliasian and sociological scholarship he went even further, which may Freund in finishing her doctoral thesis. and to see that Richard is still very well explain his marginalisation. In Bouglé wrote a short reference for the much on form teaching-wise. I ‘revolutionising’ what we can know Dutch Steunfond, which granted Elias a found attending this conference very and do sociologically, as a refugee stipend (Korte, p. 203). stimulating, hence this letter. One issue with very little resource Elias was very above all has been on my mind ever likely to encounter a cool reception and A new contact was with Klaus Mann. since coming away from Leeds – that significant resistance. Correspondingly, Elias’s father Hermann had a business perennial chestnut of why Elias’s ideas Elias’s sociology has found only patchy contact in Berlin with Ernst Kohn, have not had wider influence and why support when compared to far less whose son Wolfgang Hellmert [actually significant writers such as Giddens innovative writers such as Giddens Adolf Kohn] was befriended by Klaus and Bauman, who in resorting for and Bauman. One way to change this Mann. With this contact, Elias was help to continental philosophers, have pattern is to show how an Eliasian able to get a foot in the door of Mann’s almost gone out of their way to deny approach can make a sociological journals Die Sammlung and Der his significance. Bauman’s lack of difference. In order to achieve this,

4 Figurations Issue No.49 July 2018 I think we need to do a lot more with alternative analyses. It seems challenge for the upcoming decades. developmental work. One aspect of to me that Elias’s ideas on linguistic/ Very generally, this describes the Eliasian sociology which has enormous conceptual development offer real thematic framework for the activities potential in this respect is his unique possibilities in this respect as they open of the ‘Norbert Elias Center’ (NEC) at analysis of ‘scientific’ linguistic and up opportunities for a more reality- Germany’s northern-most university, conceptual development. … congruent sociological experience that the Europa-University Flensburg: will facilitate closer and more adequate the NEC aims at contributing to Unlike so many sociologists, Elias engagement with human interdependent the debate on socio-ecological engages with ‘physical science’ or what processes. Then perhaps crypto- transformation processes from a I prefer to call materials engineering: philosophers such as Giddens, Bauman sociological perspective. The full title for me ‘science’ as a concept is too and their associates will be sidelined of the Flensburg centre includes the polluted with metaphysical nuances to rather than Elias. elements of ‘Transformation Design offer much opportunity for a thorough & Research’, which can be understood process analysis – engineering is Peter Emmerson programmatically: the NEC engages in what they do. If sociologists cannot the historical reconstruction of socio- develop a comparatively autonomous, PhD student ecological transformation processes ‘scientific’, process approach, they Department of Sociology (transformation research) as well as have little novel to offer. In What is University of Leicester in empirically-informed theorising Sociology?, Elias draws our attention to of the possibilities and limitations this issue by focusing on early concept Note: Peter Emmerson is a bit more of influencing future societal change formation (force, gravity etc.) as a vital than just a ‘PhD student’ in Leicester; (transformation design). aspect of ‘scientific’ development. he is a retired teacher who was taught Accordingly, if sociologists are to in Leeds by Richard Kilminster and Process Sociological Heuristics – develop sufficient relative autonomy then himself taught Jonathan Fletcher, Why Norbert Elias? and thereby distance themselves from introducing him to Elias when he was philosophers, biologists and the rest. at school in Peterborough. Peter’s letter So far, Elias’s oeuvre has only been from whom many of their notions has been shortened a little. marginally received in environmental derive, they need to formulate distinctly sociology and related fields; though sociological concepts. Elias made a Elias’s sociology of knowledge breakthrough in overhauling certain Flensburg’s Norbert Elias (as developed in Involvement and process-reducing sociological concepts Center for Transformation Detachment) comprises some and coming up with new ones such Design & Research: promising links and Johan Goudsblom as ‘involvement and detachment’, Civilising Society’s has performed pioneer work in this ‘habitus’, ‘relative autonomy’, Relations to Nature? field. Flensburg’s NEC draws on ‘homines aperti’ etc., all of which are a process sociological framework more fitted to investigating processual Bernd Sommer, Michaela Christ & for the following reasons: Elias’s interdependencies rather than causal Harald Welzer sociology is characterised by a relations. … {And] by emphasising thorough consideration of long-term ‘comparing’ we get involved in ‘a Global warming, increasing perspectives. This holds true for his new means of speaking and thinking’ biodiversity loss and ocean ground-breaking work, On the Process (WiS?, CW vol. 5, pp. 106–8), a more acidification, land-use changes of Civilisation, but also his Studies verb-oriented linguistic style. Such and further socio-ecological crises on the Germans, in which Elias goes a modus operandi would benefit are current manifestations of a back to the Thirty Year’s War in order sociological process analysis by destructive exploitation of natural to explain sociologically the rise of making it harder to use philosophically resources on a global scale. Against National Socialism in Germany. Such ossifying, noun-oriented (process- this background, in the political arena long-term perspectives are missing reduced) language, which occupies as well as in academia, the question in most contemporary debates on such a large part of what sociologists of how modern societies can develop sustainability and socio-ecological such as Giddens and Bauman write. more sustainable relations to nature change, but are crucial nevertheless: Correspondingly, we can even move has become one of the most pressing only by a profound understanding away from Eliasian noun-oriented issues of our time. The United Nations’ of how the current societal relations notions such as ‘relative detachment’ Sustainable Development Goals to nature developed historically, to a more verb-oriented ‘comparatively (SDGs), adopted by the international the possibilities and pitfalls for detached’. community of states in 2015, serve as a fostering something like ‘sustainable prominent example: under the heading development’ can be understood. For an Eliasian approach to be properly ‘Transforming our World: the 2030 This is why one research area of the recognised sociologists need to be Agenda for Sustainable Development’, NEC deals predominantly with what made aware of that it provides tangible the transformation of society we call ‘diachronical transformation advantages in understanding and according to the normative concept of research’ focusing on the genesis of tackling human problems as compared sustainability is seen as a major societal society’s current metabolism with

Issue No.49 July 2018 Figurations 5 nature. Another characteristic feature transformation processes from the menue/tub_medien/publikationen/ of Elias’ sociology is its focus on perspective of social sciences. Finally, medieninformationen/2017/ the interdependence of socio- and a small PhD research group exists at november_2017/medieninformation_ psychogenesis. In the course of the NEC comprising PhD projects that nr_2082017/parameter/ his whole work, Elias aimed at relate to the topics of the NEC. For en/ overcoming macro/micro, respectively, further information (unfortunately, object/subject dichotomies, in order hitherto only in German) see: http:// Gianfranco Poggi’s conceptualise the interrelatedness of www.uni-flensburg.de/nec/ personal account of developments on both levels. Again, meeting Norbert Elias in this perspective is surprisingly absent 1963 in the current debate on sustainability. New Research Centre There seems to be no understanding in Berlin: Collaborative Gianfranco Poggi sent us this excerpt that in a society that is systematically Research Centre on the from an autobiographical essay that he dependent on growth and innovation, Refiguration of Spaces wrote for a Festschrift in his honour something like a ‘consumerist habitus’ (Marzio Barbagli and Harvie Ferguson, – which frustrates researchers and The German Research Foundation has eds, La teoria sociologica e lo stato politicians in the field of sustainability just funded a Collaborative Research moderno: Saggi in onore di Gianfranco alike – is just functional and cannot be Project on ‘Re-Figuration of Spaces’ Poggi. Bologna: Il Mulino, 2010). It altered by environmental education or for between four and twelve years. relates his first encounter with Norbert consumer information alone. During this time, researchers from Elias in 1963, who in view of his various disciplines such as sociology, own earlier difficulties was perhaps There is a further element of Elias’s geography, architecture, urban unsurprisingly sceptical about the work inspiring the work of the planning, the political sciences and chances of a foreigner gaining a post Flensburg Center: So far, the social communication studies will ask how in a British university. The excerpt processes that Elias identified as social dynamics have been changed in also mentions two younger members preconditions for a civilising of the recent decades by spatial changes. of the Department of Sociology at the habitus – such as increasing societal University of Leicester who gained differentiation and state formation – Current social, political and great distinction: Martin Albrow have developed on a basis that was technological changes, as well as (1937–) and Keith Hopkins (1934– and is extremely resource intensive. uncertainties and conflict around 2004). Keith was the very embodiment So the crucial question for the work the world all point to a fundamental of the Eliasian view that the scope of of the NEC in Flensburg is how these issue: the relationship between people the discipline of sociology extends to societal preconditions for the civilising and the spaces they live in is being all human society, past, present and of behaviour and emotions can be renegotiated and transformed. This future, for he was a classicist whom maintained while drastically reducing involves processes characterised by Elias and Neustadt appointed to teach the usage of ecological resources and tension and conflict. The main features the sociology of the ancient world. In sinks. Keeping in mind that Elias of these processes can be captured by 1963, he left Leicester for a post at the himself viewed increased foresight the concept of ‘refiguration of spaces’. LSE, and subsequently went to Brunel, and growing empathy with people before being appointed Professor of independent of their group affiliation Refiguration finds its expression Ancient History in the University of as manifestations of the civilising both in emerging spatial planning Cambridge (1985–2000). Gianfranco’s of habitus, it could be argued that a practices and in the fight for the remarks also throw light on the fluidity ‘sustainable usage’ of ecosystems that preservation of traditional uses of and informality of the sociology labour does not take place at the expense of space. With this in mind, the CRC is market in Britain in the early 1960s, others – neither of people from the taking an interdisciplinary approach to to spark the envy of early career Global South nor of future generations analysing spatial structures and new sociologists of today. Here is what – could be described as constituting spatial knowledge, thus offering an Gianfranco remembers: more civilised social relations to nature. integrative perspective on the analysis of the current transformation of the ‘One evening in the spring of 1963 Pat Activities and Topics social order. A special focus of the first and I were having dinner at a trattoria, year will be the relationship between in Siena. We found ourselves chatting So, what exactly does the NEC at refiguration of spaces and cross-cultural to a young English couple, whose male Flensburg University do? So far, we comparison. There will be a guest component turned out to be, of all have conducted third-party funded scholar and fellowship programme for things, a sociologist – Keith Hopkins, research projects dealing with the room international scholars. then of the LSE. During that summer for manoeuvre for a more sustainable we went on a short trip to England and development in cities and the economy. Further information on the called on the Hopkinses; they invited Additionally, in 2017 we started the Collaborative Research Project can be us to dinner, together with two other study program MA Transformation found at: sociologists, Norbert Elias and Martin Studies dealing with socio-ecological http://www.pressestelle.tu-berlin.de/ Albrow. The talk turned to the then

6 Figurations Issue No.49 July 2018 flourishing condition of sociology in REVIEW ESSAYS of a ‘mortifying tendency’ (Abtötung, Britain: it was being seriously promoted Georges Devereux). Dominant ways by universities old and new, including Good and Evil tackled of thinking bolster the omnipotence Edinburgh, which in the current issue with sociological of numbers and cases. With that, they of the New Statesman was advertising empathy: Two closely contribute to reductionism, reification, a lectureship in a Sociology department related essays by Hans- alienation and depersonalisation. then in the process of being established Peter Waldhoff and Ultimately, as the thesis implies, this by Tom Burns. I wondered aloud what Christien Brinkgreve entails a socio-political reality in which might happen if I were to apply. de-humanisation and exclusion may Arjan Post usher in homicide, suicide or terrorism. ‘The consensus was that I would be By drawing on examples from a myriad taken seriously, on account of my Hans-Peter Waldhoff, Eros und of scientific disciplines and literature, Berkeley PhD and my book in the Thanatos als Triebkräfte des this essay explores the intercourse making. This was intriguing enough Denkens: Psychoanalytische und of knowledge (and the denial of it: to somebody who, from Italian erkenntniskritische Perspektiven Nichtdenken, ‘not thinking’) and experience, assumed automatically (Weilerswist-Metternich: Velbrück behaviour. Although Waldhoff’s that academic advertisements were a Verlag, 2017). 100 pp. ISBN 978 3 perspective is apt to favour powerful joke, all appointments being of course 9583 2137 3. ideas over power and dependence rigged. But probably what decided me relations, this daring enterprise raises to apply was an astonishing remark many interesting questions. Not an from Elias, that well-known student unimportant one: what to do about of manners, to the effect that of course it?, is touched upon rather early in his I would never make it through an exposé. The antidote for the tendency interview. Actually, I never disproved of reduction lies in synthesis and him. For although, once I had applied, dialogue, or ‘pluralistic thought’. things started happening rather fast In this, Waldhoff’s plea for groups on the Edinburgh–Florence axis, I analysis rings again – alongside Norbert never did go through a proper, formal Elias’s stance against the ‘atomistic job interview in the British academic fallacy’ of science and philosophy, one pattern. Tom Burns met me in Paris could add. After all, individuals can for a lengthy, informal chat (during only be understood as part of social which, on strict instructions from Pat, figurations. I managed for the first and last time in my life to keep my mouth shut for lengthy periods); and shortly after that I was offered a lectureship. Having got as far as that almost as a dare, and at any rate more from curiosity than any other motive, Pat and I decided that I might as well accept, and move to the other end of Europe.’ Christien Brinkgreve, Het raadsel van goed en kwaad: Wat mensen beweegt. (Amsterdam: Atlas Contact, 2018). 200 pp. ISBN 978 9 0450 2938 2.

In his new German book Eros and Thanathos as the Driving Forces of Thought Hans-Peter Waldhoff continues his explorations of civilising versus de-civilising processes. The gist is that in modern, so-called Enlightened societies individuals are prone to disown destructive impulses as well as their own transiency. Highly specialised science disciplines in particular Remarkably, almost at the same time strive for ‘rational’ and impersonal Christien Brinkgreve published her ‘models’, as nowadays psychology new Dutch book The Riddle of Good or economics. As Waldhoff warns, and Evil, dealing with fairly the same this suppression returns in the form huge topics. Although Brinkgreve has

Issue No.49 July 2018 Figurations 7 a far more personal, impressionistic FIGURATIONAL JOURNALS (UNIMEP), Brazil, and this issue approach (‘empathic sociology’ as a ONLINE contains an #educational dossier’ on reviewer baptised her method) close to Norbert Elias. Contents are as follows: literary non-fiction, she is more set for Human Figurations: Long- Tony Honorato and Magda Sarat, catching and detecting evil. However, term Perspectives on the Apresentação do Dossiê Educação: in the end she fails to construct a profile Human Condition, vol. 7, pesquisas a partir das teorias de Norbert of torturers. Meanwhile her focus is no. 1, May 2018: Elias on the interweaving and trespassing https://quod.lib.umich.edu/h/humfig/11 of antagonisms of death and life, 217607.0007.1*?rgn=full+text Tony Honorato, Pesquisas com destruction and vitality, science and Norbert Elias em História da Educação literature. Eros and Thanatos do not Contents shape a clear distinction; for one reason Horacio González López and Irene because they reside in one person at the Katie Liston, Editor’s Introduction Marquina Sánchez, Las paradojas del same time, for another because death heroísmo y de la civilización en Ignacio can be a deliverance. Reasoning from Stephen Mennell, ‘Elias and Popper’ Manuel Altamirano there, it is the human bonds and the ‘contact’ people make with each other Godfried van Benthem van den Gilmar Alves Montagnoli, and themselves which allow for élan Bergh, ‘Herder and the Idea of a Célio Juvenal Costa, Educação, justiça vital – with the note that also wars, Nation’ e configuração social na América vengeance, and atrocities intrinsically Portuguesa no Século XVII are driven by very much the same Hugh Ridley, ‘One across goes into energy. Modern arts can testify how sociology: A neglected feature of mass Cynthia Greive Veiga, Organização rage allows for creation. culture’ da nação e monopolização do ensino pelo estado: homogeneidade cultural e Where Waldhoff sheds light on the Robert van Krieken, ‘Translator’s exclusão socio racial (Brasil, séculos deceitfulness of supplanted or ‘masked’ Introduction: Menno ter Braak’s XIX e XX) feelings and thoughts, often resulting two articles on Norbert Elias, ‘The in the very reversal of Eros and age of kitsch’ (1935) and ‘The word Maria Teresa Santos Cunha and Thanathos (the misuse of authority, civilisation’ (1939)’ Márcia Regina Santos, Preceitos para ‘reason’, and ‘uncivilised’ civilisation), bem viver: um estudo sobre manuais de Brinkgreve has ambivalence under Menno ter Braak, ‘The age of civilidade e etiqueta na década de 1950 scrutiny. Yet, both qualify for the kitsch: Our culture seen as a period of psychoanalytic tradition of unveiling ‘uncertainty of form’; art and Kitsch are Magda Sarat and Renato Suttana, the unconsciousness in order to not opposites’ Norbert Elias e Mozart como outsiders: control ‘what drives people’. Waldhoff memórias de infância e figuração social suggests forms of (self)communication Menno ter Braak, ‘The word and displays several models based on civilisation: on the border between Edilson Fernandes Souza, empathy, whereas Brinkgreve calls for civilisation and culture’ José Luís Simões and Marcos André ‘mood management’ (stemmingswerk) Nunes Costa, Atividades miméticas and connections that finally constitute Marcel van den Haak, ‘High culture e dispositivos de controle no Colégio happiness. Since nowadays Western unravelled: A historical and empirical Americano Batista no Recife culture is preoccupied with decay and analysis of contrasting logics of cultural mortality, she repeats: don’t forget hierarchy’ Cristiane Fernanda Xavier, ‘natality’. Sociologia de um educador – Paschoal Emilia Sereva, ‘Thinking with Elias Lemme e a educação de adultos using the Collected Works’ Deane Monteiro Vieira Costa, Note: Menno ter Braak’s 1940 review Civilizar o campo: educação, saúde of Elias’s Über den Prozess der e iniciação profissional nos cursos Zivilisation, which has often been de alfabetização da Professora Zilma referred to, is here translated into Coelho Pinto, no Estado do Espírito English for the first time by Robert van Santo (1947–63) Krieken. Alonso Bezerra Carvalho and Carlos Fonseca Brandão, As paixões, Comunicações 24: 3 as pulsões e as emoções humanas (2017) em Aristóteles, Freud e Norbert Elias: uma reflexão para a educação This journal is published by the contemporânea Methodist University of Piracicaba

8 Figurations Issue No.49 July 2018 Karen Worcman and André Oliveira 4. Norbert Elias’s theoretical innovation causes shaping the customs of nations. Costa, A construção do Eu nas in The Established and the Outsiders Thus he entrusts to the collaboration narrativas de vida 5. Norbert Elias as sociologist of sport of the disciplines (of sociology with 6. Norbert Elias and Mozart history as well as with psychology) the Alexandre Fernandez Vaz, Duas 7. The Significance of Norbert task of grasping all the human facts leituras de um movimento: Norbert Elias’s sociology in The Symbol which contribute to the constitution of Elias e Ttheodor W. Adorno, sobre o Theory: language, time, knowledge, art modernity. processo civilizador and science. 8. On The Loneliness of the Dying: the Having identified Elias’s thought and PDFs of all the above articles can be sociology of ageing and dying the objections it raises, this book shows downloaded from: 9. Norbert Elias’s stance as sociologist that it offers valuable support for those https://www.metodista.br/revistas/ in The Germans working to diagnose contemporary revistas-unimep/index.php/ Appendix: On Elias’s early and late social pathologies, deriving from comunicacoes/issue/view/218 essays). the constitution of human beings as ‘individuals’. Although few of us in the West will be RECENT BOOKS AND able to read it, this book is very clearly Jiří Šubrt, The Perspective of ARTICLES a major contribution to making Elias’s Historical Sociology: The Individual work known in Japan. Florence Delmotte, ‘Norbert Elias, Catherine Deneuve et l’égalité des Claire Pagès (ed.), Elias et sexes’, La Vie des idées , 24 avril les disciplines (Tours, Presses 2018. ISSN : 2105-3030. URL: http:// Universitaires François www.laviedesidees.fr/Norbert-Elias- Rabelais, 2017). 176 pp. ISBN: Catherine-Deneuve-et-l-egalite-des- 978-2-86906-657-1. sexes.html. Elias’s originality is to affirm With the Weinstein affair, there has the historicity of affectivity: the been much debate about male sexual progressive monopolisation of physical drives. Cathérine Deneuve provoked violence by the state has induced a further controversy by making slow transformation of the psychic remarks that seemed relatively more economy and led socialised individuals sympathetic to the male angle. Florence to adopt forms of self-constraint. Delmotte argues that the sociology of This processual history, however, Norbert Elias is a precious resource experiences stasis and reflux, and for understanding this already historic even phases of ‘decivilisation’. To moment, beyond the media opposition understand them, Elias takes into between freedom to annoy and moral account the singularity of historical duty to denounce [male chauvinist] situations as well as the multiplicity of pigs. (In French, #balancer les porcs was the equivalent of #MeToo.) as Homo-Sociologicus Through Society and History (Bingley: Emerald Akira Ohira, A Study of Norbert Elias. Publishing, 2017), xii + 294 pp. ISBN: (Tokyo: Seibundo, 2018). ISBN: 978-4- 9781787433649. 7923-3375-1. 311 pp. Abstract: This book provides a We don’t have a transliteration of comprehensive overview of the range the Japanese title of Akira Ohira’s of themes which make up the field latest book, but in English translation of historical sociology. Jiri Subrt it means A Comprehensive Study of systematically discusses the main Norbert Elias or just A Study of Norbert problems of societal development, Elias . long term process and changes in the key areas of social life. These include The title of each chapter is as follows: not only temporalised sociology, evolutionary theory, civilisational 1. On The Civilizing Process analysis, societal systems, structures 2. On The Court Society and functions, but also modernisation 3. On Norbert Elias’s and revolution, risk, crisis, catastrophe sociological theory: quest for and collapse, wars, conflicts and figurations violence, nations, nationalism and

Issue No.49 July 2018 Figurations 9 collective memory. This study does captured by previous explanations. sociologist, Norbert Elias is notorious not ignore the fundamental dichotomy We propose an explanation of the and recognised by himself. The underlying the discipline, which is directional change that is based on the established and the outsider figuration between individualism and holism. aggregation of everyday interactions. shows how individuals are in At the heart of this book lies the This theory posits that directional norm relationships of interdependence with human individual as related to social change can come about if there is an each other, allowing the dissolution of and historical development. The key asymmetry in punishment propensity the antithesis between individual and question is who or what is responsible between the people who prefer stricter society. In this paper, we propose to for the process of human history: society norms and those who prefer looser consider how the concept of figuration or the individual? The author concludes norms. Asymmetry in punishment can can contribute as an operator for the by offering an approach which may help arise from underlying asymmetry in the field of psychoanalytic practice. So we in resolving this dilemma. threat perceived, where a stricter-than- will seek to articulate psychoanalysis preferred behaviour is perceived as and Norbert Elias’s sociology Ksenia Kirillova, Dan Wanga and inherently less threatening than a looser through the concept of figuration, as a Xinran Lehtob, ‘The sociogenesis one. We demonstrate the logic of the methodological operator that helps us of leisure travel’, Annals of Tourism theory using a formal model and test understand the subjective processes in Research vol 69 (March 2018), pp some of its assumptions through survey psychoanalytic practice. 53–64. experiments. Keith Thomas, In Pursuit of Civility. Abstract: Tourism literature explored Jonathan Seelye Martin, Manners and Civilization in Early tourist-related phenomena from a ‘Monopolising Violence: Gewalt, Modern England. micro- or individual-level perspective, self-control, and the law in Heinrich investigating behaviour in the context von Veldeke’s Eneasroman’, The of one’s preferences and without German Quarterly, Special Issue: The considering the larger societal forces Politics of German Literature 91:1 that shape these tendencies at a (Winter 2018) pp. 18–33. macro level. Drawing on Elias’s figurational sociology, Russia’s Abstract: Heinrich von Veldeke’s contemporary history (1955–2016) and Eneasroman is one of the first courtly biographical-grid interviews with 27 romances in the German language. Russian citizens, this research provides Until now, the role of the law in the text a figurational analysis of the meaning has gone largely unexplored; this article and practices of leisure travel. Based argues that the Eneasroman functions on nine identified themes arranged as an integral part of the twelfth-century chronologically across three periods legal system in order to promulgate a (Soviet Russia, transitional period, reduction in violence and project an modern Russia), the sociogenesis of idealised monopoly of violence as its leisure travel is explained. Results final goal. It further argues that this is provide insights into factors that part of the programme of courtliness, underlie the reality for tourists, based understood in line with Norbert Elias on which they form their motivations, and Stephen Jaeger as emphasising preferences, and behaviours. Tourism self-control in the courtly warrior and research needs to move beyond reducing violence. Courtliness is thus sedentarist theories and the West/East viewed as a largely fictional precursor (New Haven: Yale University Press, dichotomy. to the modern state monopoly on 2018) 480 pp. ISBN: 9780300235777. violence with correspondences in real What did it mean to be ‘civilized’ in Pontus Strimling, Mícheál de Barra twelfth-century legislation, primarily early modern England? and Kimmo Eriksson, ‘Asymmetries that of the Landfrieden. A study of these in punishment propensity may drive issues grants us a better understanding Keith Thomas’s seminal studies the civilising process’, Nature Human of the development of law in medieval Religion and the Decline of Magic, Behaviour vol. 2 (2018), pp. 148–55. society on its way to modernity. Man and the Natural World, and The Ends of Life, explored the beliefs, Abstract: Norms about hygiene and André Oliveira Costa, ‘Notes on the values and social practices of the years violence have both shown a tendency Established-Outsiders figuration: between 1500 and 1800. In Pursuit to become increasingly strict, in the A psychoanalytical approach’ of Civility continues this quest by sense that the handling of bodily fluids Psychology Research 8: 2 (February examining what the English people and the use of violence have become 2018) pp. 53–9. thought it meant to be ‘civilised’ and increasingly restricted. The generality how that condition differed from being of this directional change across a Abstract: The influence of ‘barbarous’ or ‘savage’. large number of societies has not been psychoanalysis in the work of Thomas shows how the upper ranks

10 Figurations Issue No.49 July 2018 of society sought to distinguish In times when the social sciences have to be missed to make links between themselves from their social inferiors become increasingly fragmented and the everyday and the societal, political by developing distinctive forms of more focused on ‘the pieces of the and legal contexts by those wishing to moving, speaking and comporting puzzle’; the puzzle, as a topic in its further children’s participation rights. themselves – and how the common own right, has slowly been moved This has implications for children’s people in turn developed their own towards the background. Nonetheless, developing citizenship and their ability forms of civility. The belief of the as humanity becomes ever more to participate in wider society. English in their superior civility shaped globalised, there is a greater need their relations with the Welsh, the for in-depth discussion on the theory Drawing on the sociology of Norbert Scots and the Irish. By legitimising behind the direction of humanity in Elias, we will argue that some of the international trade, colonialism, history and the interrelationships barriers to children’s participation in slavery, and racial discrimination, it between the different areas in which and control over their everyday lives was fundamental to their dealings with humans associate themselves with, are attributable to their positioning as the native peoples of North America, including that of leisure and sport. ‘children’ in opposition to ‘adults’ and India, and Australia. the concomitant assumptions about At its heart, Norbert Elias, Social their capacities, or lack thereof. These Yet not everyone shared this belief in History and Sport explains both the assumptions are evident in a variety the superiority of Western civilisation. course of history and how the roles that of formal discourses underpinned by In Pursuit of Civility throws light on leisure and sport have occupied in it developmentalism and protectionism, the early origins of anti-colonialism should be investigated. Exploring this including law and policy, but they and cultural relativism, and goes on to from Norbert Elias’s figurational (or are also internalised and perpetuated examine some of the ways in which the process sociological) standpoint, Van in what Elias called the ‘habitus’; new forms of civility were resisted. Gestel offers a unique perspective as it unconscious and embodied behaviours approaches the theoretical concepts and and dispositions that have been shaped With all the author’s distinctive ideas by systematising the views of the by wider social structures. authority and brilliance – based as iconic scholar and offers new insights ever on wide reading, abounding in into his central theory. Furthermore, Remus Creţan and Ryan Powell, fresh insights, and illustrated by many drawing upon theoretical principles ‘The power of group stigmatization: striking quotations and anecdotes from that are universal to humans rather than wealthy Roma, urban space and contemporary sources – In Pursuit of relative to a case study, Van Gestel strategies of defence in post- socialist Civility transforms our understanding offers an applicable guideline which Romania’, International Journal of of the past. In so doing, it raises explains phenomena beyond specific Urban and Regional Research (2018) important questions as to the role of cultures or circumstances that have DOI:10.1111/1468-2427.12626. manners in the modern world. so far been a customary practice by process sociologists. Abstract: Recent research on Roma Joannes van Gestel, Norbert Elias, stigmatisation has tended to focus Social History and Sport (London: Sally Hester and Allison Moore, on the marginal socio-economic Routledge, 2018) 170 pp. ISBN: ‘Understanding children’s participation and spatial position of Roma people 9780815380665. through an Eliasian lens: Habitus within European societies, with as a barrier to children’s everyday poverty, persistent inequalities and participation rights’, International substandard housing conditions (for Journal of Children’s Rights 26: 3 example, ghettoisation) highlighting (2018). their differential treatment. Central to such accounts are group images Abstract: In this article, we will and stereotypes of Roma as ‘benefit present our research findings and scroungers’ and/or ‘beggars’ lacking argue that whilst a focus on the rights notions of self-restraint and social of young children to participate has responsibility. This body of research helped to influence the development of is hugely important in terms of its participatory approaches in a range of contribution to an understanding of the children’s settings, aimed at enabling complex dynamics of marginalisation their opinions to not only be heard but and stigmatisation of poor Roma be acted upon, this does not seem have households. Yet not all Roma are spread into areas of children’s everyday characterised by poverty and economic life. Thus, in their everyday life hardship. This article explores the interactions children’s rights continue neglected experiences of wealthy to be denied or given entitlement in Roma within urban spaces in Romania. the basis of assumptions about the It draws on empirical evidence from social category to which they belong. interviews with Roma families, leaders Furthermore opportunities continue and local authorities. Our analysis

Issue No.49 July 2018 Figurations 11 exposes the way in which Roma are and decline of the British Empire. addressing topics that were central to vehemently stigmatised regardless of That is, by focusing on the functional his intellectual and political interests. their economic position or housing dynamics that are embedded in collective Among those that stand out are his circumstances and highlights deep groups, one is able to consider how the critique of Thomas Kuhn’s theory of underlying sentiments towards them UK’s ‘state’ and ‘imperial’ figurations scientific revolutions, his work on the within Romanian society. We critique were interdependently related to changes significance of time in social theory and Wacquant’s concept of territorial in both the UK and the former British the interweaving of techno-scientific stigmatisation by applying it to Empire. Consequently, by locating developments and socio-cultural wealthy groups out with typical areas contemporary UK relations in the transformations, including the impact of of relegation (for example, Roma historical context of former imperial communication and digital technologies, ghettos) within the specific urban relationships, nationalism studies can and of market-led eugenics. Other context of post- socialist Romania. go ‘beyond’ the nation/nation-state in themes covered are Martins’s work on While our analysis points to the order to include broader processes of patrimonialism and social development internalisation of stigma, we also imperial expansion and decline. Here, in Portugal and Brazil, and his analysis identify distinct defensive strategies the relationship between empire and of the state of the social sciences in wealthy Roma employ to counter and nationalism can offer a valuable insight Portugal, which reflects his highly avoid stigmatisation. We suggest that into contemporary political movements, critical appraisal of the ongoing a focus on the neglected spaces of especially within former imperial groups. marketisation and neoliberalisation wealthy Roma groups can facilitate a of academic life and institutions more comprehensive understanding Bridget Fowler, Jose Esteban Castro worldwide. of the distinct urban power relations and Luis Gomes eds, Time, Science that shape Roma stigmatisation, and the Critique of Technological The collection of essays includes reveal how this long-term process Reason : Essays in Honour of Herminio contributions by Richard Kilminster has recently been accentuated within Martins (Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2018) ‘Karl Marx: New Perspectives’ and Europe alongside a more overt populist 390 pp. ISBN: 9783319715186. Stephen Mennell’s ‘The “Modelling of and anti- Roma political agenda, and Speech” in America and Britain’. contribute to the development and refinement of Wacquant’s thesis. Dominique Bodin and Luc Robène, Sport and Violence: Rethinking Elias Richard Crisp and Ryan Powell, (London: Routledge, 2016) 178 pp. ‘Youth unemployment, interdependence ISBN: 9781138213005. and power: tensions and resistance within an alternative, “co-produced” Dominique Bodin and Luc Robène, employment programme’, in Bevir, Sport et Violence: Repenser Norbert M., McKee, K. and Matthews, P. Elias (Québec: Presses de l’Université (eds) Decentring Urban Governance: Laval, 2018). 273 pp. ISBN 978-2-7637- Narratives, Resistance and 3882-6 (pb); 978-2-7637-3883-3 (pdf). Contestation (London: Routledge, 2017), pp. 38–63.

Jack Black, ‘The United Kingdom and British Empire: A figurational approach’, Rethinking History 22:1 (2018) pp. 3–24.

Abstract: Drawing upon the work of Norbert Elias and the process [figurational] sociology perspective, This festschrift commemorates the this article examines how state legacy of UK-based Portuguese formation processes are related to, sociologist Herminio Martins and, affected by, expanding and (1934–2015). It introduces Martins’s declining chains of international wide-ranging contributions to the interdependence. In contrast to civic social sciences, encompassing seminal and ethnic conceptions, this approach works in the fields of philosophy and focuses on the emergence of the social theory, historical and political nation/nation-state as grounded in sociology, studies of science and broader processes of historical and technology, and Luso-Brazilian studies, social development. In doing so, state among others. The book features formation processes within the United an in-depth interview with Martins, The aim of this book, in discussing Kingdom are related to the expansion short memoirs, and twelve chapters Elias’s theory, is not to refute it.

12 Figurations Issue No.49 July 2018 Tendentiously, the theory works with its I think I can discern a distinctly Eliasian highways to global knowledge weaknesses and strong points and it has perspective running through the book – societies. Yet, new scopes and been enriched by a number of authors but that, and much else, would be clearer modes of dis-/information and ex-/ over time. The objective of this volume if the book had an index. In my view, no communication have caught us in is to discuss the blind spots and, more academic book should ever be published partially brutalising and banalising simply, what is too often taken for minus the essential tool – the vital study asocial and social networks. They granted: namely the obvious pacifying aid – of an index. The absence thereof function as counter powers to effect of sports and/or produced by seems to be more frequent in French previously highlighted processes sports. This analysis has been guided by and German books than in English, but of rationalisation and civilisation. two perspectives: the sociological one may generally be becoming commoner, These countertendencies pervade which questions the ‘naturalisation’ of perhaps because of the extra cost an basic perception patterns and social sport which is also the naturalisation index represents in these straitened interdependencies in all realms of of the ‘wildlings’ which have to be times for publishing. (Of course, authors life and death. They open up new civilised, and the other which comes should always index their own books social horizons as well as professional from philosophical anthropology …). surveillance. Collective myths of free and attempts to comprehend the long and unconstrained communication term characteristics of this union – or SJM veil these processes and remain disunion – of sport and violence. This unquestioned in many social scientific, book was previously published as Peter Ludes, Brutalisierung und journalistic and social media accounts. a special issue of the International Banalisierung: Asoziale und soziale Hateful antagonisms require detached Journal of the History of Sport. Netze. [Brutalisation and Banalisation and transdisciplinary inquiries. in asocial and social networks] Marc Joly, Pierre Bourdieu (Paris: Wiesbaden: Springer VS, 2018. 39 pp. Stephen Mennell, ‘Liminality and CNRS Éditions, 2018). 414 pp. ISBN: ISBN 978-3-658-21766-2 (pb) ISBN the frontier myth in the building of the 978-2-271-11867-7. 978-3-658-21767-9 (eBook) American Empire’, in Agnes Horvath, https://doi. Bjørn Thomassen and Harald Wydra, Marc Joly is well known to readers org/10.1007/978-3-658-21767-9 eds, Breaking Boundaries: Varieties of of Figurations for his commitment Liminality (Oxford: Berghahn, 2015), to and sterling work in promoting Peter Ludes’s short essay in the pp. 112–29. the sociology of Norbert Elias. Here, Springer ‘Essentials’ series attempts to however, he provides a comprehensive Abstract: In this article, the westward view of the work of Pierre Bourdieu expansion of the USA in the nineteenth (1930–2002). century and the central place often allotted to the frontier in the American Joly argues that, for all his fame, national experience are re-examined in Bourdieu’s work remains poorly the light of the concept of liminality. understood, especially in France, where Peter Ludes Connections are tentatively drawn it is regularly the subject of ideological between that idea, stemming especially quarrels. Brutalisierung from the work of Arnold van Gennep and Victor Turner, and the famous To see Bourdieu in broader perspective, und Banalisierung ‘frontier thesis’ of another Turner, and to enlighten the debates, Joly Asoziale und soziale Netze Frederick Jackson Turner. A further proceeds in three stages. He first shows element in the discussion is the idea how Bourdieu, from the early 1960s, of decivilising processes, derived gave himself the means to theoretically from the writings of Norbert Elias. In refashion the European sociological conclusion, it is argued that the frontier, tradition while ensuring that sociologists whether as actual liminal experience or acquire an appropriate scientific ethos. as myth, has had lasting consequences He then interprets the power of the for American habitus and for the USA’s ‘Bourdieusian’ conceptual framework position in the world. – the habitus–field–capital triad – in the clarify key trends, combining insights light of the historical and epistemological from the humanities, social sciences, Bowen Paulle and Mustafa characteristics of sociology, understood and the arts. Five chapters inquire Emirbayer, 2016. ‘Beneath as a social science par excellence, the into the Evil of Banality, Collective rationalization: Elias, Foucault, and ‘science of science’ and the matrix of Myths, Inclusion and Exclusion, the body’, European Journal of Social a new humanism. Finally, he examines Fiction and Factualness, and Ten New Theory, 19: 1 (2016): 39–56. the theoretical and political resistance Commandments. that Bourdieu’s scientific approach has Abstract: Elias and Foucault ended constantly aroused. The first decades of the twenty-first- up making the same core discovery century supposedly built information about the same fundamental social

Issue No.49 July 2018 Figurations 13 process, which we term the ‘social dynamic. A double-bind situation and it offers a unique opportunity to constraints towards self-discipline’ develops, involving feelings mutual redefine the basic epistemological and process. We show how three distinct fear and resentment between some ontological principles of sociology as biographical and intellectual factors residential groups, whilst also creating we know it. The contributors collected were important in guiding them toward affective bonding among others. here aim to elucidate the complexity this discovery: (1) their shared exposure The established–outsider model is and the scope of this growing approach to philosophical traditions associated elaborated and adapted using ‘relative by dealing with three central questions: with Heidegger’s break from Husserl; deprivation theory’ as developed by Where does relational sociology (2) their common, sustained contact Lea and Young (1984). This more come from and what are its principal with ‘clinical’ practices; and (3) the directly connects relational phenomena concerns? What are the main theoretical traumatic events each experienced in producing feelings of resentment and methodological currents within relation to intentional injury and death. between working-class residents with relational sociology? What have we the generation of crime and violence. studied in relational sociology and what Steven Meredith, ‘Established as This thesis, therefore, presents an are the results? Outsider? Figurational “Binds” and example of ‘sociological criminology’, “Bonds” in a Welsh Working-Class synthesising figurational sociology Michael Mann, ‘Have wars and Community’, unpublished PhD thesis, and left realist criminology with the violence declined?’, Theory and Cardiff University 2018. aim of adding to the corpus of reality- Society 47: 1 (2018), pp. 37–60. congruent social scientific knowledge [Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/ This thesis is about how people living on collective processes of status honour s11186-018-9305-y]. in a typical urban working-class and stigma. community located in South Wales Abstract: For over 150 years liberal get on with each other. Reflecting Francois Depelteau (ed.), The optimism has dominated theories of upon the empirical data collected over Palgrave Handbook of Relational war and violence. It has been repeatedly three years of ethnographic fieldwork, Sociology (Springer International argued that war and violence either it tells the story of ‘Ashmill’ and the are declining or will shortly decline. relationships which have developed There have been exceptions, especially among generations of residents. The in Germany and more generally in focus is on ‘Blackacre’, a council estate the first half of the twentieth century, geographically situated at the heart of but there has been a recent revival of Ashmill, its residents tending to be such optimism, especially in the work regarded as ‘rough’ and ‘antisocial’ of Azar Gat, John Mueller, Joshua by residents of the surrounding Goldstein, and Steven Pinker who all neighbourhood. The thesis presents an perceive a long-term decline in war intensive case study of the community and violence through history, speeding figuration of Ashmill, and makes up in the post-1945 period. Critiquing theoretical–empirical contributions Pinker’s statistics on war fatalities, I which may have resonance with show that the overall pattern is not a similar communities. Council estates, decline in war, but substantial variation as a result of deliberate policies and between periods and places. War has their unplanned consequences, have not declined and current trends are come to be seen as ‘residualised’ slightly in the opposite direction. places for ‘problem’ people, who are The conventional view is that civil frequently stigmatised as ‘chavs’: [C] wars in the global South have largely ouncil [H]oused [A]nd [V]iolent. This replaced inter-state wars in the North, thesis considers how this came to be, but this is misleading since there is indicating the long-term, processual, major involvement in most civil wars relational, and transformational by outside powers, including those of character of the problem which is Publishing AG: Cham, 2018) 686 pp. the North. There is more support for investigated in this thesis using a ISBN: 9783319660042. their view that homicide has declined figurational-sociological framing, in the long-term, at least in the North specifically through the analytical lens This handbook on relational sociology of the world (with the United States of Elias and Scotson’s (2008 [1965]) covers a rapidly growing approach lagging somewhat). This is reinforced established–outsider model. Analysed in the social sciences – one which is by technological improvements in figurationally, the stigmatisation of connected to the interests of a large, long-distance weaponry and the two Blackacre and its residents as ‘rough’ diverse pool of researchers across transformations have shifted war, and ‘antisocial’ can be understood as a range of disciplines. Relational especially in the North, from being the outcome of long-term processes sociology has been one of the key ‘ferocious’ to ‘callous’ in character. in which interdependent residential foundations of the ‘relational turn’ This renders war less visible and less groups have become trapped in a power in human sciences since the 1980s, central to Northern culture, which has

14 Figurations Issue No.49 July 2018 the deceptive appearance of being contribution towards disrupting the swimming as a modern competitive rather pacific. Viewed from the South gentleman’s delusion that his good sport is an under-researched topic. the view has been bleaker both in the manners are innate. There are no sociological analyses colonial period and today. Globally war The focal point of the book lies in relating to the development of and violence are not declining, but they the second volume. The portrayal of competitive swimming and significant are being transformed. feudalism and its transformation into gaps within much historical research. a new type of social organisation, the This thesis has been conducted from rise of the new state form, can only be a sociological perspective in order to BIBLIOGRAPHICAL described as monumental. What is most test the relative adequacy of Norbert RETROSPECT important about the book, however, Elias’s concept of sportisation. is the portrayal of the enormous Figurational sociologists have often Robert van Krieken provides below a changes in another area, which arise examined the concept of sportisation translation of the review by the Dutch from the former, namely in relation to in relation to the development of criminologist W. A. Bonger of Elias’s people’s behaviour and their psyche. contact sports such as boxing and Über den Prozess der Zivilisation, How the internalised self-discipline rugby. Some authors have sought to published in Dutch in 1940. His characterising modern society has criticise figurational sociologists for translation of Menno ter Braak’s grown out of the external compulsion over-emphasising issues relating to the review has also just been published in to which the medieval person was increasing control of violence when Human Figurations 7: 1 (see above). subjected. From a sociological examining the development of such Tragically, the two Dutch writers who perspective, this exposition can only activities. In this manner, there is scope so favourably reviewed Über den be assessed as brilliant. In the absence to contribute to existing empirical and Prozess der Zivilisation both committed of any human intention, by itself as it theoretical knowledge by testing the suicide upon the German invasion of were, society and the person himself relative adequacy of the concept of the Netherlands in 1940. were transformed. ‘Through people, sportisation in relation to the long-term not by people’ (heterogeneity of development of the predominantly Norbert Elias, Über den Prozess der aims) – ‘Durch die Menschen, nicht non-contact sport of competitive Zivilisation: Soziorganische [Sic] und von den Menschen (Heterogonie der swimming. To this end, data have been Psychogenetische Untersuchungen. Zwecke)’. This reviewer knows of few examined from a range of documentary I, II Wandlungen des Verhaltens in works where the connection between sources. Various swimming-based texts, den weltlichen Oberschichten des sociology and psychology is so aptly treatises, periodicals and magazines Abendlandes (Verlag Haus zum Falken, established. were examined at the British Library Basel 1939). Mensch en Maatschappij and Colindale Newspaper Library in 16(4) 1940: 283–4. Reading this book is not only London. The original minute books of recommended for psychologists, it the Amateur Swimming Association In the limited space available for a book is also necessary for sociologists and and its predecessor bodies have also review in Mensch en Maatschappij, historians, in so far as the latter are been analysed. In addition, a range one has to remain content with drawing not so narrow-minded as to pay no of digitised source material has been attention to this very important book. It attention to sociology. examined from several electronic would otherwise be entirely worthwhile databases. It has been argued that the to devote an extended article to it. W. A. Bonger development of modern competitive Deceased, 14 May 1940 swimming was an unplanned and The book’s subject is behaviour, the unintended outcome resulting from the manners of the civilised person in Steven Cock, ‘The sportisation of complex interweaving of wider social Western society. More precisely: how swimming: A sociological examination processes in England throughout the has, from the medieval barbarian, a of the development of swimming as periods between the Middle Ages and person emerged who behaves in an a modern competitive sport, c.1595– the early twentieth century. The earliest entirely different way. To make this 1908’. Unpublished PhD thesis, reported swimming contests took place comprehensible, the author has to dig University of Chester, 2012. in the eighteenth and early nineteenth deeply and answer questions such as: centuries in the form of a cash wager how did medieval society (national Abstract: Modern competitive between two or more individuals. economy) turn into one based on swimming is a highly structured, These events were less structured money, how did absolutism emerge organised, codified and regulated and regulated than modern forms from a society in which the state was sport. This has not always been the of competitive swimming. Betting extremely weak? case. The aim of this thesis has been upon the outcome of such events was to examine the long-term development deemed to be an appropriate means to The first volume concerns ‘civilisation’ of competitive forms of swimming experience heightened levels of tension- in the sense of ‘good manners’, an throughout the periods between the excitement within the context of an interesting enough topic in itself, but late sixteenth and early twentieth emerging society in which people were even more compelling when placed in centuries. Despite some recent increasingly expected to demonstrate its societal context. It is a marvellous historical analyses, the emergence of greater self-control over their behaviour

Issue No.49 July 2018 Figurations 15 and emotions. More organised forms often linked to the constitutional sense * See Johan Goudsblom, ‘Zum of competitive swimming gradually of ‘state’, which means something Hintergrund der Zivilisationstheorie emerged during the nineteenth equivalent to ‘Province’ or Land. von Norbert Elias: Das Verhältnis and early twentieth centuries. The However, I think it has a deeper cause. zu Huizinga, Weber und Freud’, in emergence of an increasingly complex For the central meaning of ‘state’ for Gleichmann, Goudsblom and Korte, eds. network of clubs, societies and sociologists is that given in Weber’s Macht und Zivilisation (Frankfurt am associations at local, county, district famous definition: ‘an organisation Main: Suhrkamp, 1984), pp.129–47. and national levels facilitated such which successfully upholds a claim to developments and contributed to the binding rulemaking over a territory, emergence of standardised rules and by virtue of commanding a monopoly RECENT CONFERENCES regulations within the emerging sport of the legitimate use of violence’. By of swimming. Such developments that measure, the USA itself may be The Quest for Socially and have been explained in relation to regarded as a failed state. (For a more Culturally Diverse Societies ongoing processes of state-formation, nuanced version of that point, see Pieter pacification, lengthening chains of Spierenburg, (2006) ‘Democracy 15 July 2017, Waseda University, Japan interdependence and a gradual lowering came too early: a tentative explanation in the threshold of repugnance within for the problem of American The Symposium ‘The Quest for Socially England in the period between the homicide’, American Historical and Culturally Diverse Societies’, under Middle-Ages and the early twentieth Review, 111: 1 (2006), pp. 104-14.) the auspices of the School of International century. In this manner, it has been Perhaps that is too provocative; but Liberal Studies of Waseda University argued that the concept of sportisation the confusion of meaning can have brought together international and is an appropriate theoretical framework practical consequences: when the State Japanese scholars whose investigations for explaining the long-term Department says that the USA ‘does not analysed questions on the development development of the modern non-contact do nation-building’ (as in Afghanistan), of the Japanese we-identity from a sport of competitive swimming. it appears not to understand the figurational perspective. dynamics of processes of internal Martin Jacques, ‘Civilisation state pacification. Part one was chaired by Prof. Ohira versus nation-state: China confronts Akira. Prof. Julian Manning (Nihon Europe with an enormous problem – SJM University) and Prof. Raúl Sánchez García we do not understand it’. Süddeutsche (Universidad Europea Madrid) delivered Zeitung, 15 January 2011. Johan Huizinga, In the Shadow oral presentations during this part. of Tomorrow (New York: W.W. This newspaper article from 2011 Norton,1936). Julian Manning’s ‘The uses and was recently drawn to our attention abuses of culture: ethno-nationalism by Andrew Linklater. Jacques argues As Joop Goudsblom pointed out many and multiculturalism’ offered a that the West fundamentally fails years ago,* the great Dutch historian critical assessment of the relationship to understand China, because it is a Johan Huizinga was a considerable between the concept of culture and the ‘civilisation state’ rather than a ‘nation early influence on Elias, notably for development of ethno-nationalism. The state’ of the kind Westerners habitually his book The Waning of the Middle idea of culture as a solid, unchanging think in terms of. Jacques does not refer Ages. Steve Quilley recently drew reality that bounds people from common to the theory of civilising processes, our attention to another of Huizinga’s ethnic origins together reproduces the but, in shorthand, his argument relates books, from 80 years ago, in which agenda of biological determinism. That is more to the (original) second volume he uses the concept of habitus and why Prof. Manning defined culturalism of Über den Prozess der Zivilisation discusses how habitus undergoes as the new racism. Multiculturalism than to the first. But it also calls to change. as a political philosophy has failed to mind the failing that is almost universal promote integration because it maintains among Americans (and widespread The relevant section, on pp. 231–9, the idea of culture as a fixed reality. elsewhere) of talking about ‘nation begins thus: ‘It is not from intervention Taking into account Eliasian approach state’ when they mean just ‘state’, by social organisations that we must to society as processes of interdependent and about ‘nation-building’ when expect deliverance. The foundations heterogeneous individuals, Manning they mean ‘state-formation’. The of culture are not such that the organs considered culture as diverse and in concept of ‘nation’ refers to a sense of of society, whether they be nations, constant development. This basic tenet a we-identity among people who live churches, schools or parties, could could provide a solid basis for the project within a territory, but that typically reaffirm or strengthen them. What is of interculturalism would solve many of comes about (if at all) when the required is an internal regeneration of the pitfalls of multiculturalism. process of state formation is fairly well the individual. The spiritual habitus of advanced. man himself will have to change.’ As Raúl Sánchez García’s ‘Civilizing- will be evident, the tone – with a term Decivilizing and Formalizing- In the case of the USA, the confusion of like ‘the spiritual habitus of man’ – is Informalizing Balances in the ‘nation-building’ with state formation is very different from Elias’s. Development of Japanese Martial

16 Figurations Issue No.49 July 2018 Traditions’ empirically tested this of crime, generalized trust and income the alumni circle of sociologists fourfold classificatory schemein the inequality’ analysed the relationship from the University of Amsterdam. development of Japanese martial between changes in the we-identity A vast variety of topics passed under traditions: (1) Sengoku Period of Japanese communities and the the heading of ‘Civilization and (1467–1603) as an example of deciv- perception of threat and fear. Despite Technological Developments’. A informaliz trend in which the expansion the fact that crime had been steadily range of speakers touched upon many of martial techniques and tactics grew decreasing since 2002, the social important issues: the emergence of a exponentially in a crude and violent perception is that the situation has virtual world and its implications for way; (2) Tokugawa Shogunate (1603– become worse. Although the author did sociological analysis; the unintended 1867) as an example of civ-formaliz not make it explicit, the implications consequences of social media and the trend in which martial techniques of this study for clarifying questions of rise of populism; reality construction and tactics were systematized but decivilising and informalising trends on the internet; the (possible) role of also tamed; (3) Showa Period before are of the utmost interest. politics in the direction of technological WWII (1926–1945) as an example of developments; the digital provision of decivilising-formalising trend in which The oral presentations of the symposium medical and health information and its martial traditions were used by the were included afterwards in a printed influence on proto-professionalisation; State to foster a nationalistic-militaristic volume called Norbert Elias and his the emergence of ‘smart cities’ and ethos among Japanese citizens; (4) Sociological Perspective: Civilization, ‘smart services’; and the ways media 1970s–1990s Period as an example of Culture and Knowledge (2017), as part channel and feed on anxieties and civ-informaliz in which Mixed Martial of the series that Prof. Akira Ohira, resentment. Arts such as kickboxing, K-1 and acting as editor, has been publishing PRIDE only apparently increased the with DTP Publishing along the years. Two contributions pre-eminently level of violence, becoming successful focused on civilizational issues in the representatives of spectacular, Raúl Sánchez García Eliasian sense. Referring to the old professional combat sports model. critique that the civilisation theory was ‘immunised’ against empirical Part two was chaired by Prof. Shuichi Civilization and refutation, Bart van Heerikhuizen Wada. Prof. Tomochika Okamoto Technological expressed in a personal and theoretical (Tsukuba University) and Akio Koyabu Developments reflection the sense of a recent (Waseda University) presented during de-civilization spurt. Social media this part. Even though the two oral University of Amsterdam, 4–6 may function as a catalyst in this, presentations in this part were in November 2017 since they no longer seem to expand Japanese, they provided some handouts global identifications (as internet in English. Technisation and the dark side of pioneers used to dream of), but civilising processes conversely facilitate the entrenchment Tomochika Okamoto’s ‘On History in ‘bubbles’ of like-mindedness. That Education at School as the Apparatus Although technology is sometimes would imply not the lengthening of Cultural Integration’ proposed an still regarded, even by sociologists, but rather a shortening of chains of analysis of history text-books used as isolated from social and psychic interdependence, with the implication in Japanese junior high-schools. He processes, more and more evidence that circles of mutual identification tend presented insightful findings on the points in the opposite direction. to shrink. Van Heerikhuizen regaled relationship between history education Technological development, or his audience with telling examples in Japan and nationalism. Up to the ‘technization’ as Elias called it, affects of decivilizing tendencies, including Second World War, Japanese school production methods, power ratios and public performances of the new education aimed at building a strong lifestyles as much as the social habitus. president of a former superpower. national consciousness, connecting At the same time, civilisation provides Japanese citizens to the figure of the for technization: these processes are In the final talk Robert van Emperor as the center of the State. intertwined. From here many questions Krieken elaborated on changes in Even though some changes were arise. One of the most compelling is, communication technology and their introduced after the war, the content what exactly is the impact of the new interaction with changes in social of the books maintained ethnocentric global information and communication relationships and trends in civilization views. However, despite the influence technologies on human behaviour and de-civilization. As Elias stressed of political conservatism in the country, and self-restraints. In what respect right at the beginning of his essay the introduction of the guidelines for do they contribute to civilization and ‘Technization and civilization’ (1986), school education in 1989, promoted de-civilization? technological development not only students’ independent thought and requires standards of civilized conduct, introduced a more critical scope in the This was the central topic in a three but also can bring about ‘barbaric’ text-books. days conference (4–6 November 2017) behaviour. These counter-spurts can Akio Koyabu’s ‘Social participation, to celebrate the second luster of the take place at ‘newly-reached’ stages of formation of human relationship, fear ‘Kring van Amsterdamse Sociologen’, technization. Drawing on many thinkers

Issue No.49 July 2018 Figurations 17 – ranging from Nietzsche and Max colleagues, friends, and former students Alan Scott, ‘Against fashion, against Scheler to René Girard and the Dutch assembled to mark the occasion. philosophy’ writer Menno ter Braak – Van Krieken Nico Wilterdink, ‘The unfinished unfolded his view on the ‘dark side’ Organised by Ryan Powell (one of sociological revolution: Progress and of civilizing processes. Nietzsche had Richard’s former PhD students) and regression in sociological theorising’ already noticed that when the Christian Sarah Biggins from the University of ideal of equality collided with the Sheffield, along with John Lever and Andrew Linklater, ‘Involvement reality of inequality and powerlessness, Stephen Vertigans, the conference and detachment: critical theory, dominant value systems may break began with lunch – how very cosmopolitanism and process down. But they also pave the way civilised! In his opening ‘Laudatio’, sociology’ for resentment, ‘the most dangerous Stephen Mennell stressed how of all explosives’. However, as Van Richard, in order to establish the solid John Lever and Ryan Powell, Krieken advanced in a Tocquevillean foundations of what he had labelled ‘Problems of involvement and paradox, feelings of injustice may a ‘post-philosophical’ sociology on detachment: Norbert Elias and the well up especially within democracies. Eliasian lines, had had to labour long investigation of contemporary social Civilizing processes can go hand in and hard at mastering great tracts processes’ hand with functional democratization, of philosophical literature. The task which can be a driver of resentment at may have seemed unrewarding, given John Connolly, Paddy Dolan and the same time. When this continues, that the goal was to show how little Stephen Vertigans, ‘Perceived state partly due to the efforts of ‘resentment philosophy had to offer a sociological legitimacy and figurational sociology: entrepreneurs’ and via social media, it understanding of social reality, but emotional responses to Irish hunger could lead to de-civilization. Richard’s work had in effect saved strikes’ others (like Stephen himself) the need All in all the talks bared a sense of to repeat the labour. And Richard had Phil Sutton, ‘Sociology of knowledge inescapable and gloomy changes: there achieved this – especially in his two and knowledge of sociology: a textbook is something new under the sun, and it books The Sociological Revolution presentation’ is hard to see it as progress. and Norbert Elias: Post-Philosophical Sociology – against the background Cath Morgan, ‘Knowledge, social Arjan Post of ‘social theory’ being dominated by process, power: integrating figurational philosophoidal thinking, including on sociology into a BSc Criminology the part of his supervisor, friend and degree’ The Sociology of Sociology head of department, Zygmunt Bauman. in Long-Term Perspective: In his reply, Richard presented a more Steve Loyal, ‘From praxis to process: Conference in Honour of detailed intellectual autobiography, the sociology of Richard Kilminster’ Richard Kilminster going back to the heated debates about Marxism and sociology that engulfed Marc Joly, Plenary Lecture: ‘The University of Leeds, 5–6 April 2018 British sociology in the 1960s and threefold calling of sociology’ 1970s, discussed in his first bookPraxis The eternally youthful Richard and Method. Even then, Richard’s Kilminster actually turned 75 on the career seemed to have unfolded on the FORTHCOMING day following this conference in his principle of ‘know thine enemy’. Half CONFERENCES honour. A large number of his family, a century later, those debates must seem like ancient history Seventeenth International to sociologists now starting Symposium on Civilising their careers, yet they Processes remain in many ways quite formative. Londrina/PR, Brazil: 15–19 October 2018 The first day of the conference closed, very The Research Groups led by professors typically of Eliasian Tony Honorato (UEL-Londrina) and conferences, with drinks, Célio Juvenal Costa (UEM-Maringá), then dinner at Browns will organise the 17th International restaurant. In spite of any Symposium on Civilising Processes hangovers, the second day that will take place in the Universidade opened with reflections Estadual de Londrina (UEL), Brazil, from Richard’s students and 15–19 October 2018. peers. UEL is located in the city of Londrina, The other papers presented Paraná State, in the southern region at the conference were: of Brazil. In the University, the

18 Figurations Issue No.49 July 2018 local Organising Commission, Reinventing Elias: CONTRIBUTIONS TO constituted by members from UEL International Pre- FIGURATIONS and UEM (Universidade Estadual de Conference PhD Workshop Maringá), will have the support of The next issue of Figurations will be the Postgraduate Programs of both Stephen Mennell and Robert van mailed in January 2019. News and Universities, besides the Research Krieken notes should be sent by 1 December Group on Civilising Processes and 2018 to the Editors at figurations@ the Laboratory of Studies on the Brussels, Université Saint-Louis – norberteliasfoundation.nl. Portuguese Empire (LEIP). Bruxelles, 4–5 December 2018 Editor: Dr Barbara Górnicka The 17th SIPC will occur in the This workshop will examine the (University College Dublin) month of October 2018 and particular contribution made by Norbert will have the presentation of Elias and scholars using his work in Associate Editors: Dr Katie Liston, research in the following formats: sociological research. Students will School of Sports Studies, University Conference, Coordinated Tables, become familiar with the key concepts of Ulster, Newtownabbey, County Oral Communication, Workshop and in Elias’s work, including processes of Antrim, Northern Ireland BT37 0QB; Mini-Courses. The event is hoping civilization, decivilization, figurations, Professor Stephen Mennell, School of to gather up to 200 researchers from the theorization of court society, Sociology, University College Dublin, different fields of knowledge, in forty process sociology and relational Belfield, Dublin D04 F6X4, Ireland. hours of academic activities. theorizing. The seminar will also examine the critical engagements with Editorial Address: School of For further details, see http://www.sbhe. Elias’s work, and reflect on the various Sociology, University College Dublin, org.br/sites/default/files/Newsletter%20 ways in which Elias’s sociology of Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. n%201%20SIPC%202018.pdf civilization and decivilization can Email: figurations@ be applied to current issues in social norberteliasfoundation.nl science. Topics will include court Global society and modernity, civilization Honorary Assistant Editors: Florence Interdependencies: and the making of the modern self, Delmotte, Brussels (French); Heike What’s new in the human genocide, cultural genocide and Hammer, Stuttgart, and Tabea Dörfelt- society of individuals? The decivilization, recent developments in Mathey, Jena (German); Tatiana political and academic international relations, and ‘celebrity Savoia Landini, São Paulo (Spanish relevance of Norbert society’ as court society in an age of and Portuguese, Latin America). Elias’s work today mass communication. Contributions should preferably be Brussels, Université Saint-Louis – There is no charge for the workshop, e-mailed to the Editor in the form of Bruxelles, 5–8 December 2018 apart from a small charge for light MS Word (.doc or .docx), Rich Text refreshments, although participants (.rtf), plain text (.txt) or Open Office The next ‘big’ Elias conference will will be responsible for their own travel Text (.odt) files. Do not use embedded be organised by the Research Centre and accommodation costs. Enrolment footnotes. Hard copy is accepted in Political Science (CReSPo) and the in the workshop will be limited to 20 reluctantly. Photographs should be Institute for European Studies (IEE) participants, and the closing date for submitted in JPEG format. of Université Saint-Louis – Bruxelles applications is 30 September 2018. (USL-B) in Brussels, Belgium, on 5–8 Those who would like to take part © 2018, Norbert Elias Stichting, J.J. December 2018. should send an email to Robert van Viottastraat 13, 1071 JM Amsterdam, Krieken (Robert.van.Krieken@sydney. Netherlands. For further details, see the conference edu.au) , briefly stating their interests website: and what they are currently working on. Graphic Design and Desktop Publishing: Annette van de Sluis. https://eliasbrussels2018.wordpress. Amsterdam, Netherlands. com/ Figurations is distributed free of charge on request to researchers, institutes or libraries. To be added to the mailing list, please write to the Secretary, Norbert Elias Stichting, J. J. Viottastraat 13, 1071 JM Amsterdam, Netherlands (email: secretary@ norbert-elias.com)

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