The civilizing process

The Civilizing Process is a comprehensive work that explores the social and cultural shifts in European society from the medieval period to the 19th century.

Elias argues that civilization is a dynamic process linked to changes in power relations, economic structures, and state institutions.

The book examines the transformation of manners, etiquette, and self-restraint, and how these changes led to the emergence of the modern state and the internalization of societal norms.

It is divided into two main volumes: 'The History of Manners' and 'State Formation and Civilization'