Civilizing-decivilizing and formalizing-informalizing balances in the development of Japanese martial traditions (original) (raw)

Abstract

According to Norbert Elias, any social process unfolds within a shifting balance between centrifugal and centripetal forces. Elias identified such balance on the civilizing-decivilizing relational axis. Nonetheless, expanding Cas Wouters discussion on informalization, this oral presentation states that a formalizing-informalizing relational axis must be also taken into account in any figuration at any moment. Thus, we could identify centripetal and centrifugal forces on both axis of relation: civilizing (going to the middle range, moderation) and formalizing (concentration) are representatives of centripetal forces and decivilizing (polarization, going to the extremes) and informalizing (expansion) are representatives of centrifugal forces. This way, we obtain a classification of four possible compounded trends: decivilizing-informalizing, decivilizing-formalizing, civilizing-formalizing and civilizing-informalizing. To further explore and empirically test this fourfold classificatory scheme I present a brief analysis of different cases from the development of Japanese martial traditions: (1) Sengoku Period (1467-1603) as an example of deciv-informaliz trend in which the expansion of martial techniques and tactics grew exponentially in a crude and violent way; (2) Tokugawa Shogunate (1603-1867) as an example of civ-formaliz trend in which martial techniques and tactics were systematized but also tamed; (3) Showa Period before WWII (1926-1945) as an example of deciv-formaliz trend in which martial traditions were used by the State to foster a nationalistic-militaristic ethos among Japanese citizens; (4) 1970s-1990s Period as an example of civ-informaliz in which Mixed Martial Arts such as kickboxing, K-1 and PRIDE only apparently increased the level of violence, becoming successful representatives of spectacular, professional combat sports model.

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