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Civilizing and Informalizing: Organizations in an Eliasian Context

Maastricht University, The Netherlands a.vaniterson{at}mw.unimaas.nl

Willem Mastenbroek

Free University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands wil_mbkleuronet.nl

Joseph Soeters

Royal Netherlands Military Academy, The Netherlands jmlm.Soeters{at}mindef.nl

In this paper, we argue that an Eliasian approach is significant because of its long-term study of social processes and its attempt to show the intricate connection between macro-societal developments, such as state formation, and micro-level changes in manners, morals and mentalities. The paper illustrates the relevance of this perspective for organization studies through a discussion of one `nation-specific' and one `overarching' trend in the western civilizing process. The nation-specific trend relates to the value contrast between French civilization and German Kultur, and its impact upon national industrialization and organizational behaviour. The overarching trend relates to `informalization' processes and their effect on organizational integration and emotion codes at work.

Key Words: civilization • identity • informalization • state formation • work emotions

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