Norbert Elias's African Processes of Civilisation: On the Formation of Survival Units in Ghana

Norbert Elias was invited to the University of Ghana in 1962, where he taught, employed fieldwork, and met many people in postcolonial Africa. This volume is a selection of his unpublished writings based on these experiences, which touch upon criticism of Eurocentrism and a developmental perspective, as well as the core of Elias's work: the concept of civilization. Dieter Reicher and Adrian Jitschin have explained and broken down the relations of Elias's African experience to the rest of his work and biography, and Arjan Post has uncovered the previously unknown story of Elias's encounter with Malcolm X.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 247 pages
Publication date: 12 January 2023
Publisher: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden

In 1962, Norbert Elias was invited to the University of Ghana in Legon, Accra, as a temporary professor. During his tenure, he engaged in a multifaceted experience that included teaching, conducting fieldwork, traveling extensively throughout postcolonial Africa, and interacting with a diverse range of individuals. As Elias bid farewell to Ghana in 1964, he had laid the foundation for a groundbreaking sociological argument concerning human societies. This volume presents a selection of his unpublished writings, derived from his experiences in Africa. Together, these writings encompass a wide range of topics, including the well-known critique of Eurocentrism and a developmental perspective. However, they also delve into the heart of Elias's work, namely the concept of civilization.

In a foreword, Dieter Reicher and Adrian Jitschin have undertaken the task of explaining and dissecting the connections between Elias's African experience and the rest of his work and biography. They have also clarified some misleading interpretations of Elias's time in Africa. Furthermore, Arjan Post has uncovered a previously unknown and fascinating story of Elias's encounter with Malcolm X in an epilogue.

This collection of unpublished writings offers a unique insight into the mind of Norbert Elias, providing a deeper understanding of his thought and the broader context in which he operated. It serves as a valuable resource for scholars and enthusiasts alike, shedding light on the enduring legacy of one of the most influential sociologists of the 20th century.

Weight: 339g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783658378486
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022