THE FIRST FORMAL ANALYSIS AND THEORY OF CIVILIZATION

ELIAS, NORBERT.

Über den Prozess der Zivilisation. 2 vols.

Basel, Haus Zum Falken, 1939. 8vo. 2 volumes both uncut in the original printed wrappers. Very light wear to extremities and back-wrapper of volume 2 with a circular tear. Small embossed stamp to half-title of volume 1. A very fine and clean. XX, 327; VIII, 490, (1) pp.

First edition of Elias's landmark work in which he attempted to explain how Europeans came to think of themselves as more "civilized" than their forebears and neighboring societies, today regarded as being one of the most influential works in 20th century sociology and the first formal analysis and theory of civilization.
The Civilizing Process is today regarded as the founding work of Figurational Sociology. In 1998 the International Sociological Association listed this work as the seventh most important sociological book of the 20th century.

"Elias examined the interplay among the rise of state monopolies of power, increasing levels of economic interconnectedness among people, and pressures to become attuned to others over greater distances that led to advances in identifying with others in the same society irrespective of social origins. Elias's analysis of the civilizing process was not confined, however, to explaining changing social bonds within separate societies. The investigation also focused on the division of Europe into sovereign states that were embroiled in struggles for power and security." (First edition of Elias landmark work in which he attempted to explain how Europeans came to think of themselves as more "civilized" than their forebears and neighboring societies, today regarded as being one of the most influential works in 20th century sociology and the first formal analysis and theory of civilization.
The Civilizing Process is today regarded as the founding work of Figurational Sociology. In 1998 the International Sociological Association listed this work as the seventh most important sociological book of the 20th century.

"Elias examined the interplay among the rise of state monopolies of power, increasing levels of economic interconnectedness among people, and pressures to become attuned to others over greater distances that led to advances in identifying with others in the same society irrespective of social origins. Elias's analysis of the civilizing process was not confined, however, to explaining changing social bonds within separate societies. The investigation also focused on the division of Europe into sovereign states that were embroiled in struggles for power and security." (Norbert Elias, The Civilizing Process: Sociogenetic and Psychogenetic Investigations).

Because of World War II it was virtually ignored, but gained popularity when it was republished in 1969 and translated into English.

Order-nr.: 52608