Elites

Murray Milner , Jr. 지음

Polity 2015년 01월 08일 출간

작품소개

책소개

At a time when significant social status, economic resources,and political opportunities seem to become ever more unequallydistributed and only available to a few, this book represents thefirst systematic effort in recent years to develop a sociologicalmodel of elites and non-elites. In outlining a new typology ofeconomic, political, and cultural elites, as well as drawingattention to the important role of non-elites, this accessiblywritten book provides novel insights into the structure ofhistorical and contemporary societies.Milner identifies the sources and structures of economic,political, and cultural power, and investigates patterns ofcooperation and conflict between and within elite groups. Analyzingpoliticians and propagandists, landowners and capitalists, nationalheroes and celebrities, ordinary folks and outcasts, the bookapplies its model to three distinctly different societies ~ancient India, Classical Athens, and the contemporary United States~ highlighting important structural commonalities acrossthese otherwise very dissimilar societies.A significant contribution to scholarship, Elites will alsobe useful for an array of courses in sociology, political science,and history.

목차

PrefaceChapter 1. IntroductionChapter 2. The General ModelChapter 3. Traditional India: the Varna SchemeChapter 4. Athens in the Classical PeriodChapter 5. The U.S. 1980-2008: Economics and PoliticsChapter 6. The U.S. 1980-2008: Other ActorsChapter 7. The 2007-2009 Financial CrisisChapter 8. ConclusionsAppendix: Some Implications and Elaborations of the ModelReferences

출판사 서평

Elites deserves wide attention. Writing with exceptionalclarity, Milner balances the simplicity of deep conceptualstructures with an empirical complexity spanning three sharplycontrasting civilizations. He emphasizes, against purely economicand political approaches, that elite status can be powerfully basedon distinctive cultural competences, which in contemporarysocieties involve increasing visibility. This is the first reallynew theory of elites in many decades.Jeffrey C. Alexander, Yale UniversityProfessor Milner provides a powerful set of social science toolsfor those keen to understand many of the pressing issues we facetoday. These include those concerned with the rise of the 1% andthe decline of the rest;& legalized corruption that deeplydistorts our political process; and the influence of the militaryindustrial complex.Amitai Etzioni, The George Washington University

작가정보

저자(글) Murray Milner

Murray Milner is Professor Emeritus of Sociology, and Senior Fellow of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia.

저자(글) Jr.