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Leisure and “The Civilising Process”

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The Palgrave Handbook of Leisure Theory

Abstract

This chapter examines the German sociologist Norbert Elias’ theory of “The Civilising Process” in relation to leisure. It sets out the main tenets of this theory and its implications for thinking sociologically about leisure (and sport). It discusses the international debate among scholars over “football hooliganism” that took place in the late 1980s and 1990s in which Eliasan theorists (self-styled “figurationists”) played a leading role. It also examines the key Eliasan proposition that leisure in modern societies, since these societies are inherently “unexciting”, entails a necessary quest for excitement. This chapter suggests that discussion of these questions did less to enhance understanding of these matters than it might have. This chapter closes with a brief consideration of the main criticisms that have been levelled at Eliasan sociologists and their understanding of leisure.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The term was coined by the Cambridge historian Sir Herbert Butterfield (Butterfield 1973).

  2. 2.

    Adrian Franklin has suggested that the theory fits angling better than fox hunting—see Franklin (1996).

  3. 3.

    One writer even suggested that, in adopting the notion of incorporation, the “Leicester School” had abandoned the “civilising process” altogether—see Best (2010).

  4. 4.

    Presidential address to the British Society for the Advancement of Science, September, 1916: <http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Extras/BA_1916_1.html> Accessed 2 Nov 2015.

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Acknowledgement

Thanks to Peter Bramham and Spencer Swain for commenting on, and helping to improve, the earlier drafts of this chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leeds Beckett University, Headingley Campus, Beckett Park, Leeds, LS6 3QS, UK

    Stephen Wagg

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  1. Stephen Wagg
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Carnegie Faculty, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, United Kingdom

    Karl Spracklen

  2. Carnegie Faculty, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, United Kingdom

    Brett Lashua

  3. Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada

    Erin Sharpe

  4. Health and Life Sciences, York St John’s University, Leeds, United Kingdom

    Spencer Swain

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Wagg, S. (2017). Leisure and “The Civilising Process”. In: Spracklen, K., Lashua, B., Sharpe, E., Swain, S. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Leisure Theory. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-56479-5_36

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-56479-5_36

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