Norbert Elias and Modern Sociology - Knowledge, Interdependence, Power, Process
Book description
This book explores the interplay between the making of Elias as a
sociologist and the development of his core ideas relating to
figurations, interdependence, and civilising processes. Focusing on the
relevance of Elias's work for current debates within sociology, the
authors centrally consider his contributions to the sociology of
knowledge and methodology. Dunning and Hughes locate the work of Elias
within a discussion of the crisis of sociology as a subject, and compare
his figurational approach with the approaches of three major figures in
modern sociology: Anthony Giddens, Michel Foucault and Pierre Bourdieu.
This highly readable and engaging book will be essential reading for
students and scholars of sociological theory and methods. Eric Dunning
is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Sociology, University of
Leicester. He is one of two people ever to have co-published with
Norbert Elias, and the only one surviving to this day. A pioneer in the
sociology of sport, his recent publications include Sport, Critical
Concepts in Sociology, and Norbert Elias: Sage Masters of Modern Social
Thought, both four volumes (2003). Jason Hughes is a Senior Lecturer in
Sociology, and Deputy Head of the School of Social Sciences at Brunel
University. His first book, Learning to Smoke (2003), was awarded the
2006 European Norbert Elias prize. His more recent publications include
two four volume reference works, Visual Methods and Internet Research
Methods (both 2012).
