Authority, State and National Character

Helmut Kuzmics is Professor of Sociology at the University of Graz, Austria. Roland Axtmann is Professor of Politics and International Relations at the University of Wales, Swansea, UK.

'This long-awaited book fully lives up to expectations. It is an outstanding example of comparative historical sociology at its subtlest, tackling the intriguing subject of differences in national character or habitus through a wealth of historical and literary evidence.' Eric Dunning, University of Leicester, UK 'In their Authority, State and National Character, Helmut Kuzmics and Roland Axtmann have produced a highly original comparative study of the development of English and Austrian habitus and social structure between 1700 and 1900. They creatively use the concepts and theories of Norbert Elias to shed light on their subject-matter, and their sociological use of literary sources is both path-breaking and exemplary. This book is a stunning achievement, quite literally a tour de force.' Stephen Mennell, University College Dublin. Ireland '...outstanding and methodologically innovative ... Particularly original is the way in which literary texts have been convincingly adduced as evidence serving close sociological analysis. Through this subtle study of "Englishness" and "Austrianness'"a clearer and deeper understanding of seemingly intangible and irrational aspects of national identity has been reached. This is particularly welcome in an area where unthinking prejudice often forms part of the popular and even educated discourse on the subject.' Helen Chambers, St. Andrews University, UK

• Contents: General Editor's preface; Introduction; The formation of the English state and the sociogenesis of political authority; The formation of the Austrian state and the sociogenesis of political authority; Feudal patrimonialism and ecclesiastical coercion of conscience in Austria; Feudal paternalism in England: developments within the gentleman canon; The courtly element in the Austrian character: authority, pretence and servility; Proud detachment as an element of English authority relationships: 'indirect rule'; Bureaucratization as an Austrian civilizing process; Puritanism, book-keeping and the moralization of authority in the English habitus; Bibliography; Index.