Political elites

Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

Authors

This article examines the various forms that political elite theory took, from the end of the nineteenth century to the 1960s and 1970s. The career patterns, forms of recruitment, and duration and turnover among the political elite are studied. The article also discusses the role of the political elite. It is concluded that the use of the concept of the political elite can help in the understanding of political life, as long as it is treated as a flexible tool that takes into account the immense complexities of the power relationships between human beings.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Oxford handbook of political behavior
EditorsRussell J. Dalton, Hans-Dieter Klingemann, Robert E. Goodin
Number of pages15
Place of PublicationOxford
PublisherOxford University Press
Publication date02.09.2009
Pages818-832
ISBN (Print)9780199270125
ISBN (Electronic)9780191577178
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 02.09.2009

    Research areas

  • Politics
  • Career patterns, Duration and turnover, Forms of recruitment, Political elite, Political elite theory, Political life, Power relationships, Role of political elite