Elias, ultra-realism and double-binds: Violence in the streets and the state. (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Clement, Matt; Mennell, Stephen
• Is Part Of: European journal of criminology. Volume 19:Number 6(2022)
• Page Start: 1367
• Page End: 1385
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: State formation -- double-binds -- violence -- Elias -- ultra-realism; Criminology -- Europe -- Periodicals; Crime -- Europe -- Periodicals; 364.05
• DOI: 10.1177/1477370820977889
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1477-3708

Abstract

'Ultra-realism' has become an influential current in criminology, especially in the study of violence and explanations of trends in violent crime. Ultra-realist writers frequently make use of Norbert Elias's theory of civilizing processes, while also often expressing reservations about his ideas. In this article, we argue that ultra-realists tend to make only partial and inaccurate use of Elias's very extensive writings. Although he himself did not write very much about crime – and indeed was less concerned with violence per se than with the roots of aggressive impulses and their control – we place him in the context of the post-war sociology of deviance. We argue in particular that it is far from true that he was blind to political economy, since the state-formation processes are central to his theory. We relate our argument to double-bind processes, violent subcultures, moral panics, populism and recent political developments in Britain.