Principal elements of the Ottoman state-formation process through an eliasian perspective
pp. 161-178
in: Tatiana Savoia Landini (ed), Norbert Elias and empirical research, Berlin, Springer, 2014Abstract
This chapter interrogates how far an Eliasian approach related to European state-formation processes in the study of The Civilizing Process (Elias 2000) and The Court Society (Elias 2006) can be applied to Ottoman history. This is an attempt to reappraise these theories in scope to open up lines of fruitful thought and so to understand the Ottoman society. Based on early modern European royalties, these models are widely accused of being nonuniversal and even Eurocentric. Yet, this study aims to bring a new reflection on these works through Eliasian conceptual tools—namely, social figurations,1 chains of interdependence,2 and balance of power,3 as well as the implementation of some of Elias"s questions, of his methodology, and in particular of his conceptualization in a non-European setting. We intend to highlight the identical effects of the same social form within societies located at a great distance in time and space.