The core of Elias` sociology is the organizing concept of so called figurations, understood by Elias as “a structure of mutually oriented and dependent people” (Elias 1978, The civilizing process, Vol I). A figuration describes the social relations of persons to each other as a holistic, processual set. Figurations are in steady transformation, can change unforeseen and over particular periods of time. The underlying idea of interdependency overcomes the view of thinking society as a multitude of isolated entities (Homo clausus) in which individuals are self-contained. Rather, Elias refers to dynamic constellations bonded together (Homines aperti). This implies both, that figurations are shaped by unforeseen developments and that figurations determine societal change. Seeing sustainability transformations from this angle yields in different perspectives about how to conceive and conceptualize processes of deliberate change.
The seminar picks up on this and explores the following questions: how can we understand sustainability transformation when looking at it from a relational sociological perspective? What is the role of the individual and of collectives in a (value-laden) interdependent sustainability project of change? How do societal bonds account for complex change? How can transformation designs be evaluated from Elias` perspective? Or is it even naïve to think of transformation as “manageable” for contemporary society at all? After introducing the work of Norbert Elias, the seminar strives to address these and other questions by examining examples of sustainability transformation literature from the viewpoint of what is called Elias` figurational sociology. This enables students to enhance a deeper sociological understanding of sustainability transformations by introducing an important piece of modern sociology.
Technical note and seminar structure
Credits: active and regular attendance, presentations and short essays. Presentations: The course deals broadly with two thematic blocks: 1) the introduction into the sociology of Norbert Elias (two units), and 2) examples of sustainability transformations seen from a figurational lens. Participants prepare presentations with obligatory texts (for all sessions and all students) as well as with supplementary texts, but most importantly participants independently investigate their topic. This enables students to describe and theoretically analyse sustainability transformations with a sociological foundation. Essays (only half a page) written in preparation for each session will enhance participant’s skills in easy ways to quickly reflect on complex problems and assess them precisely.
Recommended reading: Norbert Elias (1978): What is Sociology? Columbia University Press, 187 pages. |
