Politics in a World of Civilizations: Long-term Perspectives on Relations between Peoples

Abstract

Norbert Elias gave a detailed sociological account of the advance of civilization and the process of state formation in Europe. International relations has been a little more reluctant to take up the challenge with greater enthusiasm than the infrequent dabbling that has generally been the case to date. Yet it is well-equipped for the study, and it would be mutually beneficial to both the discipline of international relations, and the study of civilizations and civilizing process, if it did so with more relish.