Organizations and Humiliation: Looking beyond Elias

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Abstract
Elias's approach to the civilizing process is discussed and some of its limitations outlined. An alternative approach focusing upon humiliation is introduced. The paper argues that humiliation processes play an important part in organizations and in the broader social environment in which they are embedded. It is also claimed that to understand humiliation it is necessary to grasp its relationship to hierarchy, history and human rights. That means first stepping back so that the broader socio-historical framework can be considered, then moving back in close to see how humiliation mechanisms may work in particular organizational contexts. A typology of humiliation mechanisms is introduced, humiliation is distinguished from shame and an interpretation of certain macro-historical developments is outlined in terms of humiliation processes. The preceding analysis lays the groundwork for a typology of organizations with particular reference to their implications for humiliation. The concluding part suggests a research agenda and draws the argument together.

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