Norbert Elias and Figurational Research: Processual Thinking in Sociology

Norbert Elias has been increasingly recognised as one of the most important sociologists of the twentieth century and, moreover, one whose writings retain their significance and relevance for the twenty–first century. Although there are some important parts of the globe – most notably the USA – where sociologists still know relatively little about him, there are now energetic research networks using his ideas in every continent. This monograph provides a unique perspective on Elias′s thought. It includes a comprehensive background to his writing, an analysis of its theoretical and substantive influence upon the sociological tradition, an exploration of the international dimensions and multi–disciplinary aspects of his work, and a selection of some of the most exciting empirical research that is presently being conducted using what has become known as ′figurational sociology′.

Introduction ( Chris Shilling) 1. Handing over the torch: intergenerational processes in figurational sociology ( Norman Gabriel and Stephen Mennell) 2. Three faces of civilization: ‘In the beginning all the world was Ireland′ ( Robert van Krieken) 3. Process sociology and international relations ( Andrew Linklater) 4. Entropy, the anthroposphere and the ecology of civilization: An essay on the problem of ‘liberalism in one village′ in the long view ( Stephen Quilley) 5. Norbert Elias′s post–philosophical sociology: from ‘critique′ to relative detachment ( Richard Kilminster) 6. Towards a process–oriented methodology: modern social science research methods and Norbert Elias′s figurational sociology ( Nina Baur and Stefanie Ernst) 7. How civilizing processes continued: towards an informalization of manners and a third nature personality ( Cas Wouters) 8. Sport and leisure ( Katie Liston) 9. A land of a hundred thousand welcomes? Understanding established and outsiders relations in Ireland ( Steven Loyal) 10. Norbert Elias and developmental psychology ( Norman Gabriel) 11. Norbert Elias, the civilizing process and penal development in modern society ( John Pratt) 12. Meetings: the frontline of civilization ( Wilbert van Vree) Notes on contributors Index  

Norman Gabriel is Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies at the University of Plymouth. Stephen Mennell is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at University College Dublin.