The Germans

Description

The last major work by one of our century's most influential social theorists, The Germans is a penetrating account of German social development, from the seventeenth century to the present. Enhanced by his deep understanding of other Western European nations, Norbert Elias's incisive analyses of nationalism, violence, and the breakdown of civilization will be an indispensable resource for those interested in modern European history and sociology and in European studies. Title Contents Preface I - Civilization and Informalization A - Changes in European Standards of Behaviour in the Twentieth Century B - Duelling and Membership of the Imperial Ruling Class: Demanding and Giving Satisfaction II A Digression on Nationalism 'History of Culture' and 'Political History' From Humanist to Nationalist Middle-Class Elites The Duality of Nation-States' Normative Codes III Civilization and Violence: On the State Monopoly of Physical Violence and its Transgression IV The Breakdown of Civilization V - Thoughts on the Federal Republic