Elites - A General Model

At a time when social influence, economic resources, and political opportunities seem to become ever more concentrated among ever fewer individuals, this book represents the first systematic effort in recent years to develop a sociological model of elites and non-elites. In outlining a new typology of economic, political, and cultural elites, as well as importantly addressing non-elites, this accessibly written book provides novel insights into the structure of contemporary society.

Drawing on Marx, Pareto, Weber, and Bourdieu, Milner identifies the sources and structures of economic, political, and cultural power, and investigates relationships of cooperation between and key tensions within elite groups. Taking in politicians and propagandists, landowners and capitalists, national heroes and celebrities, the book applies its model to analyze three distinctly different societies: ancient India, classical Athens, and the contemporary United States, highlighting important structural commonalities across these otherwise very dissimilar societies.

A significant contribution to scholarship, Elites will also be of great interest and relevance to an array of courses in sociology, political science, and history.

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