Collective Effervescence

CCS Director Philip Smith’s new edited volume, Collective Effervescence, (co-edited with Sébastien Tutenges) is out now. 

CCS Faculty Fellows Daniel Smith and Brad West and Postdoctoral Fellow Romulo Lelis are contributors.

From the publisher: Explores how the theory of collective effervescence can be applied in surprising ways to the study of charisma, crowds, music, religion, social media, and much more 

Sociologist Émile Durkheim’s theory of collective effervescence describes an overwhelming sense of excitement, empowerment, and unity. While originally tailored to examine religious phenomena, the theory has proven remarkably powerful in explaining secular experiences, from raves and military marches to sporting events and protest crowds.

The editors and contributors to Collective Effervescence make a deep dive into new waters. They investigate solo experiences, virtual collectivities, low-intensity effervescence, and negative outcomes. Through studies of drug ceremonies, occupational subcultures, bookshops, online activities, and much more, each chapter discovers and theorizes something previously unknown. Collective Effervescence finds new potentials in a familiar theoretical resource.

Contributors: Sarah H. Awad, Pierre Bouchat, Randall Collins, Silvia da Costa, Scott Draper, Lisa Flower, Romulo Lelis, Heather Margrsion, Sharon Mascall-Dare, Ashley Mears, Darío Páez, Margit Anne Petersen, José J. Pizarro, Bernard Rimé, David Sausdal, Daniel Smith, Femke Vandenberg, Brady Wagoner, David Wästerfors, Brad West, and the editors