This book presents a cross-disciplinary and methodologically innovative study, combining historical macro-sociology and a sociology of emotions with historical anthropology and cultural studies. Drawing on the concepts and theories of Norbert Elias on the Civilizing Process, it sets out to pin down and compare qualities that are simultaneously instantly recognisable and highly elusive, that is a kind of typical 'Englishness' and of 'Austrianness' that developed contemporaneously in the period up to the First World War. The authors chart the development of political authority structures in their varied historical manifestations, as well as their affective sedimentation as collective habitus ( national character ), comparing England and Austria from 1700 to 1900 as a case study. Their argument is based on an analysis of literary sources, mainly novels and plays, applying a sociology of literature approach. Axtmann and Kuzmics argue that the very different national characters formed in England and Austria during this time are related to differences in the affective experience of power and powerlessness, in short, of authority. They show that the formation of national character is determined partly by the different mixture of authoritative external constraints and milder self-restraint, and partly by the affective experience of human beings in uneven power balances. Specifically, they show how the formation of the bureaucratic state with strong patrimonial features in Austria, and of a self-organizing civil society with strong bourgeois-liberal features in England resulted both in different institutional structures of authority, and in different modes of the affective experience of this authority. Employing empirical detail of individual cases and texts to analyse and illuminate broad processes, the authors reach a clearer and deeper understanding of seemingly intangible and irrational aspects of national identity.

This book presents a cross-disciplinary and methodologically innovative study, combining historical macro-sociology and a sociology of emotions with historical anthropology and cultural studies. Drawing on the concepts and theories of Norbert Elias on the Civilizing Process, it sets out to pin down and compare qualities that are simultaneously instantly recognisable and highly elusive, that is a kind of typical 'Englishness' and of 'Austrianness' that developed contemporaneously in the period up to the First World War. The authors chart the development of political authority structures in their varied historical manifestations, as well as their affective sedimentation as collective habitus ( national character ), comparing England and Austria from 1700 to 1900 as a case study. Their argument is based on an analysis of literary sources, mainly novels and plays, applying a sociology of literature approach. Axtmann and Kuzmics argue that the very different national characters formed in England and Austria during this time are related to differences in the affective experience of power and powerlessness, in short, of authority. They show that the formation of national character is determined partly by the different mixture of authoritative external constraints and milder self-restraint, and partly by the affective experience of human beings in uneven power balances. Specifically, they show how the formation of the bureaucratic state with strong patrimonial features in Austria, and of a self-organizing civil society with strong bourgeois-liberal features in England resulted both in different institutional structures of authority, and in different modes of the affective experience of this authority. Employing empirical detail of individual cases and texts to analyse and illuminate broad processes, the authors reach a clearer and deeper understanding of seemingly intangible and irrational aspects of national identity.

"Democracy: Problems and Perspectives" provides a critical review of the scholarly and political debates about democratic thought and of arguments about democratic practice. On the basis of an interpretation of Immanuel Kant's political philosophy, the book presents democracy as a regime type in which citizens, who are united to give law, rule themselves and where such self-rule is exercised by citizens who embrace local and global patriotism. In the course of developing this idea of democracy, the book addresses issues such as human rights and their relationship to democracy; the policy of the global promotion of human rights and democracy; sovereignty and the nation-state; popular sovereignty and multicultural citizenship; and cosmopolitanism and cosmopolitan democracy.

The book will stimulate controversial discussions about the varieties of democratic imaginations and visions, past and present as well as the future of democracy in the current stage of globalisation.

Key Features

Presents a broad range of thinkers, theoretical and political positions and arguments

Clearly links theory and practice

Uses case studies to elucidate the theories discussed

Covers a broad range of theories of democracy

Einubung, Ausubung und Duldung von Macht konnen von Gesellschaft zu Gesellschaft sehr verschieden sein. Wie kommt es, dass Gentlemen und Puritaner Englands Charakter entscheident gepragt haben, Beamte und Hoflinge jedoch die Kultur des alten Osterreich?
Das vorliegende Buch liefert einen originaren Beitrag zur historischen Soziologie der Staatsbildung zwischen 1700 und 1900.
Die Autoren erganzen die Makroperspektive und eine empirisch und theoretisch informierte Soziologie der Emotionen. Sie stellen "Autoritat" in ihren historischen Auspragungen in einen direkten Bezug zu Gefuhlen und zum Gefuhlsmanagement des einzelnen."

As the new millennium approaches, we realise that we live in a truly 'global' world of dense and ever-increasing inter- and transnational economic, political and cultural interdependence. Yet globalization is a contradictory process. Processes of global integration and interdependence are unfolding together with processes of fragmentation and regionalization. Disintegration and fragmentation of political, economic and cultural structures that spur local and regional conflicts and dislocations are counter-balanced by moves towards unification, integration and co-operation. The empirical analysis of these processes and the emergent local, regional and global structures will become the main challenge to the social sciences in the years to come.

This book offers a contribution to this task. Its main focus is the question as to how the state in Europe has been implicated in, and affected by, globalization. It places the interactions between globalization and the European state in a historical perspective, going back to the age of discovery and the formation of the modern state, yet it also addresses the complexities and uncertainties of the current age. Distinguished scholars from political science, international relations, sociology, philosophy and history -- all of whom have been specially commissioned to write a contribution for this book -- approach the unfolding dynamics of this 'age of transition' from a multidisciplinary perspective.

"Democracy: Problems and Perspectives" provides a critical review of the scholarly and political debates about democratic thought and of arguments about democratic practice. On the basis of an interpretation of Immanuel Kant's political philosophy, the book presents democracy as a regime type in which citizens, who are united to give law, rule themselves and where such self-rule is exercised by citizens who embrace local and global patriotism. In the course of developing this idea of democracy, the book addresses issues such as human rights and their relationship to democracy; the policy of the global promotion of human rights and democracy; sovereignty and the nation-state; popular sovereignty and multicultural citizenship; and cosmopolitanism and cosmopolitan democracy.

The book will stimulate controversial discussions about the varieties of democratic imaginations and visions, past and present as well as the future of democracy in the current stage of globalisation.

Key Features

Presents a broad range of thinkers, theoretical and political positions and arguments

Clearly links theory and practice

Uses case studies to elucidate the theories discussed

Covers a broad range of theories of democracy

This textbook is designed for first-time students of politics. It provides an ideal introduction and survey to the key themes and issues central to the study of democratic politics today.

The text is structured around three major parts: concepts, institutions and political behaviour; and ideologies and movements. Within each section a series of short and accessible chapters serve to both introduce the key ideas, institutional forms and ideological conflicts central to the study of democratic politics and provide a platform for further, in-depth studies.

Each chapter contains a 'bullet-point' summary, a guide to further reading, and a set of questions for tutorial discussion. Designed and written for an undergraduate readership, Understanding Democratic Politics: An Introduction will become an essential guide and companion to all students of politics throughout their university degree.

This book addresses one of the classical concerns of comparative politics: the formation and maintenance of stable democracies. How have political scientists analyzed democracy? What are the ideas and ideals that are contained in the concept of "democracy"? How are notions of sovereignty, territoriality, nation, multiculturalism, representation, rights of individuals, of groups and of communities implicated in our understanding of "democracy"? What institutional manifestations have these ideas, ideals and theoretical constructs in the "real world"? How will "democracy" and democratic institutions develop or change as the new millennium gets underway? Written by a specially commissioned group of international experts, the chapters provide, not crystal ball gazing, but an attempt at detecting socio-political trends, highlighting chances for further democratization and dangers for democratic stability. The chapters not only inform, but also bristle with stimulating ideas and insights, challenging the reader to draw up his or her own "balance sheet" of democracy and democratic rule. This book should be of interest to students of comparative politics and democratization