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Theoretical Perspectives on Elites

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Elites in an Egalitarian Society

Abstract

Elites are groups and individuals with power and influence. Elites’ bases of power vary between different regimes and societies. In Western societies, control of economic capital and the holding of command positions in large and important institutions and organisations are the central foundations of power and elite status. There is not one elite, but different elites with diverse interests and backgrounds. The members of these elites pursue a diverse set of goals. Elite groups may collaborate, compete for resources and power, be in conflict or exist in parallel worlds with little mutual contact. It is an empirical question to what extent the different elites are aligned with each other and converge in attitudes and actions or to what extent they are in conflict. This issue has, in earlier research, been formulated as a question of elite integration or unity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Social Research, Oslo, Norway

    Trygve Gulbrandsen

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  1. Trygve Gulbrandsen
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Gulbrandsen, T. (2019). Theoretical Perspectives on Elites. In: Elites in an Egalitarian Society. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95984-9_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95984-9_2

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-95983-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-95984-9

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