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Violence and Civilization: An Introduction to the Work of Norbert Elias

ISBN: 978-0-745-61879-1

July 1997

Polity

232 pages

Description
This book provides an introduction to the work of Norbert Elias. It is the first systematic appraisal of two central themes of his thought - violence and civilization. Although Elias is best known for his theory of civilizing processes, this study highlights the crucial importance of the concept of decivilizing processes. Fletcher argues that while Elias did not develop a theory of decivilizing processes, such a theory is logically implied in his perspective and is highly pertinent to an understanding of the most violent episodes of twentieth-century history, such as the Nazi genocides.

Elias's original synthesis of sociology and psychology is examined through an analysis of several key texts including The Civilizing Process, The Established and the Outsiders and The Germans. Fletcher shows how Elias constructs his "figurational models" and applies these comparatively to specific historical examples drawn from England and Germany.

Violence and Civilization is an excellent introduction to Elias's work. It will appeal to students of sociology, anthropology, and history interested in understanding the phenomenon of violence in the modern world.

About the Author
Jonothan Fletcher is currently a researcher in Brussels.
Features
  • A clearly written introduction to the work of Norbert Elias - one of the most important and influential social thinkers of the Twentieth Century
  • Provides the first systematic English language appraisal of the two central themes of Elias's work - violence and civilization
  • Examines all of Elias's key texts including The Civilizing Process; The Established and the Outsiders and The Germans.