Robert van Krieken extends Norbert Elias’s civilising processes to contemporary society. His work spans childhood, law, and celebrity, linking long-term social change with the present.
#RobertvanKrieken #NorbertElias #ProcessualSociology #Sociology #SociologicalTheory
'Norbert Elias: Post-Philosophical Sociology' by Richard Kilminster offers a fresh take on Norbert Elias’s work, exploring long-term processes, interdependence, and a bold “post-philosophical” vision of sociology.
#RichardKilminster #NorbertElias #Sociology #SocialTheory #ProcessualSociology
In this short video clip of an interview between Richard Kilminster and Adrian Jitschin from 2020, Kilminster reflects on the sociological revolution and the spiral development of sociology.
#RichardKilminster #NorbertElias #Sociology #SociologicalTheory #ProcessualSociology
A leading voice in figurational and processual sociology, Richard Kilminster’s work on Norbert Elias and long-term social processes continues to shape and inspire generations of scholars worldwide.
#RichardKilminster #NorbertElias #Sociology #FigurationalResearch #ProcessualSociology
Hermann Korte’s 'On Norbert Elias: Becoming a Human Scientist' stands as a lasting tribute to one of the most important interpreters and custodians of Norbert Elias’s intellectual legacy.
#NorbertElias #HermannKorte #FigurationalResearch #ProcessualSociology #HistoricalSociology
In this short video clip, Hermann Korte reflects on his friendship with Johan Goudsblom during the 'Long-Term Processes in Human History: A Tribute to Johan Goudsblom Conference' in 2022.
#HermannKorte #JohanGoudsblom #NorbertElias #LewisCoser #AcademicExchange
The late Hermann Korte (1937–2025) was central to preserving and advancing Norbert Elias’s intellectual work. His legacy remains deeply woven into the figuration community.
#NorbertElias #HermannKorte #NorbertEliasFoundation #FigurationalResearch #ProcessualSociology
Whether your research paddles across the long-term rivers of social development or climbs the symbolic mountains of human experience, the @norberteliasfdn.bsky.social is here to support your intellectual journey.
📸 @amackfotograf.bsky.social: The Tweed River, New South Wales, Australia.
These titles are also widely available through major bookshops and online platforms such as Amazon.
#NorbertElias #IntroductoryBooks #FigurationalResearch #ProcessualSociology #BookRecommendations
📚Violence and Civilization: An Introduction to the Work of Norbert Elias by Jonathan Fletcher
📚Norbert Elias: An Introduction by Stephen Mennell
📚Norbert Elias by Robert van Krieken
📚Norbert Elias and Modern Sociology: Knowledge, Interdependence, Power, Process by Eric Dunning and Jason Hughes
Rather, for those beginning their journey into figurational research and process sociology, there are four introductory books that we highly recommend:
We are often asked which books offer the “best” introduction to Norbert Elias and his work. There is, of course, no definitive answer to this question.
“The American Civilising Process” by Stephen Mennell extends Norbert Elias’s theory to the US, showing how weaker state formation and frontier history shaped distinct patterns of behaviour, power, and self-restraint.
#stephenmennell #americancivilisingprocesses
In this video, recorded at the UCD Media Centre in 2007, Stephen Mennell talks about using Norbert Elias to think about American history.
Link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF2J...
#NorbertElias #StephenMennell #AmericanCivilisingProcesses #FigurationalResearch #ProcessualSociology
Stephen Mennell is one of the most prominent scholars in the development and dissemination of the sociology of Norbert Elias. A British sociologist and former member of the Norbert Elias Foundation Board, he has played a key role in promoting Elias’s work worldwide.
#NorbertElias #StephenMennell
In 'The Killing Compartments' (2015), Abram de Swaan explores how ordinary people can become involved in extraordinary violence. A powerful sociological perspective on how mass violence becomes possible.
#AbramDeSwaan #Sociology #History #KillingCompartments #MassViolence
A new documentary on the life and work of Abram de Swaan, produced by Paul van den Bos, Wouter Gomperts, Johan Heilbron, and Geert de Vries in 2025, is now available on the Norbert Elias Foundation website.
You can watch the full documentary here: norbert-elias.com/media/.
#AbramDeSwaan
Abram de Swaan is a Dutch sociologist at the University of Amsterdam. His work spans a wide range of topics from the study of psychoanalysis and sociology to the study of transnational society and social policy.
#NorbertElias #AbramDeSwaan #Sociology #GlobalLanguageSystem #GlobalProcesses
'Fire and Civilization' (1992) by Johan Goudsblom explores one of the most fundamental turning points in human history: the domestication and control of fire.
#NorbertElias #JohanGoudsblom #HistoricalSociology #LongTermProcesses #Fire
In this short clip from a 2017 interview, produced by Arjan Post and Joe Tucker, Johan Goudsblom reflects on what young people can learn from the works of Norbert Elias.
#NorbertElias #JohanGoudsblom #FigurationalResearch #ProcessualSociology #KeyThinker
Johan Goudsblom (1932–2020) was a key figure in the development and international dissemination of Norbert Elias’s sociology. A Dutch sociologist at the University of Amsterdam and board member of the Norbert Elias Foundation, he helped interpret and extend Elias’s ideas for later generations.
Before becoming one of the most influential sociologists of the 20th century, Norbert Elias was a young scholar finding his voice.
‘Early Writings’ (Volume One) of ‘The Collected Works of Norbert Elias’ shows his intellectual developments as a young scholar.
📖 Book link in comments.
Since 1994, the Norbert Elias Foundation has published ‘Figurations’, connecting and inspiring processual scholars.
Join the mailing list: figurations@norbert-elias.com
📷 @amackfotograf.bsky.social — Island Circuit Track, Brisbane (Sept 2025). A reminder that scholarship is a winding journey.
Norbert Elias reflects on how we could understand social change in this short clip made by Abram de Swaan and Paul van den Bos for Dutch Public Television in 1975.
#NorbertElias #Sociology #SocialTheory #FigurationSociology #ProcessualSociology
We are pleased to launch the official account of the Norbert Elias Foundation on BlueSky.
Over the coming weeks and months, alongside LinkedIn and Instagram, we will also share updates here.
We look forward to connecting with you!
#NorbertElias #Sociology #SocialTheory #FigurationSociology
