Generational conflict and the sociology of generations: Mannheim and Elias reconsidered
Connolly, John
(2019)
Generational conflict and the sociology of generations: Mannheim and Elias reconsidered.
Theory, Culture & Society, 36
(7-8).
pp. 153-172.
ISSN 0263-2764
Since its publication in the 1920s, Mannheim’s essay, ‘The Problem of Generations’ (1952[1928]), has attained seminal status in marked contrast to Norbert Elias’s theoretical formulations on generations. Despite Elias’s close relationship over many years with Mannheim, the symmetries in their sociological programmes, and, crucially, that Elias’s work specifically addresses generational conflict, he remains invisible
within the sociology of generations literature. Yet Elias’s contributions on this subject are quite extensive, traversing many of his major works. This article begins by reviewing Mannheim’s and Elias’s formulations on generations and goes on to consider the relevance of Elias’s theoretical ideas in relation to contemporary work on generations. The paper contends that Elias’s approach is a more empirically employable
theoretical frame and also a stronger one for explaining intergenerational
conflict.
Metadata
Item Type:
Article (Published)
Refereed:
Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords:
Elias; generational conflict; Mannheim; sociology of generations