What do you think?
Rate this book
The Privileged Few
- GenresNonfictionEconomics
240 pages, Paperback
Published July 30, 2024
15 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Clive Hamilton
39 books127 followersClive Hamilton AM FRSA is an Australian public intellectual and Professor of Public Ethics at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics and the Vice-Chancellor's Chair in Public Ethics at Charles Sturt University. He is a member of the Board of the Climate Change Authority of the Australian Government, and is the Founder and former Executive Director of The Australia Institute. He regularly appears in the Australian media and contributes to public policy debates. Hamilton was granted the award of Member of the Order of Australia on 8 June 2009 for "service to public debate and policy development, particularly in the fields of climate change, sustainability and societal trends".
(From Wikipedia.)
(From Wikipedia.)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 13, 2024
an excellent and informative book about how elite privilege operates in Australia, how it legitimises and reproduces itself…
made me reflect a lot on education and specifically the meritocracy adages used to justify private schooling
only gripe I had was that it didn’t talk about the way cultural outputs (news media, television, film etc) reify and naturalise structures and practices of elite privilege
made me reflect a lot on education and specifically the meritocracy adages used to justify private schooling
only gripe I had was that it didn’t talk about the way cultural outputs (news media, television, film etc) reify and naturalise structures and practices of elite privilege
May 23, 2025
this was such an important read! the stuff about private schools was so REAL - i totally recognise like every melbourne grammar boy ever in its discussion of how they are just so confident in everything they have to say - SHUT UP.
again, i have so much bookmarked to return to, but something in the notes that really struck me was the research that in private girls' schools, feminism is framed as individual success rather than structural change. i agree that that's disingenuous to all that has come before us, and unhelpful for all the work that lays ahead of us.
that one comment from 'leah' about judging people from the suburb they come from - wow. to admit that is so disgusting. i much prefer the embarrassment documented by the researchers to this brazen classism. LOL SHUT UP LEAH. this book has incensed me.
again, i have so much bookmarked to return to, but something in the notes that really struck me was the research that in private girls' schools, feminism is framed as individual success rather than structural change. i agree that that's disingenuous to all that has come before us, and unhelpful for all the work that lays ahead of us.
that one comment from 'leah' about judging people from the suburb they come from - wow. to admit that is so disgusting. i much prefer the embarrassment documented by the researchers to this brazen classism. LOL SHUT UP LEAH. this book has incensed me.
July 15, 2024
🍵 Having grown up in China and worked in Beijing for a short period, I am not unfamiliar with “guanxi”—a term synonymous with relationships and networks in the Chinese context. Thus, the first part of the book, including the mining mogul Kerry Stokes seeking exemptions for his family and himself through high-profile connections during the COVID-19 pandemic, did not surprise me.
The most valuable conclusion I draw from the book is that while gender and racial diversity are improving in many areas, class diversity is worsening. This is evidenced by the high schools attended by recipients of Rhodes scholarships, AOs, and high court judges.
What particularly impresses me about the book is its discussion on volunteer tourism. Elite private schools use “poor communities in the global South as sites where privileged students create their ‘portfolio self’, enhance their travel experiences, hone their competence as future leaders, and burnish their CVs” (page 85). The authors critique that this perpetuates a “colonial tradition” still evident in private schools.
The authors further elevate the discussion to philanthropy, arguing that the very wealthy see themselves as hyper-agents, believing only they—embodying the technofix mindset—should be entrusted with public welfare concerns, rather than governments. As a result, foundations set up by the rich, such as the Gates Foundation, “distort global health priorities”. People who work for charitable organizations, like the World Health Organization, may practice self-censorship out of fear of losing monetary support from these foundations if they challenge the notions of the wealthy. Additionally, the rich form alliances with cultural organizations, such as national galleries, to lobby the government on taxation regulations through substantial donations.
Under market liberalism, the wealthy’s ideology becomes dominant, influencing public discourse through alliances with cultural and social capital.
Moreover, the authors discuss strategies used by the rich to legitimize and naturalize their wealth. For instance, they embrace a meritocratic philosophy, emphasizing the hard work they put into increasing their wealth and dismissing the privileges they have or the socioeconomic backgrounds they were born into. They may also differentiate themselves from the “bad rich” by viewing themselves as “conscious spenders”, as if financial privilege no longer exists if consumption decisions are prudent (page 163).
On a personal level, I had my eureka moment when reading that the Rhodes scholarship asks recipients to exemplify positive social engagement. The authors argue that students from low socioeconomic backgrounds may be occupied with caring for family members, limiting their opportunities for such engagement. And the authors also argue that women are more reluctant to exploit networks for personal gain compared with their wealthy male counterparts.
Overall, it is an intriguing read that focuses on the reproduction of elites. The authors argue that social cohesion and democracy deteriorate when class diversity declines and propose solutions, such as challenge panels, to help ensure diverse class representation.
🔖 p31 The idea of doing privilege suggests that privilege is interactional, an 'emergent feature of social situations' The bestowal of privilege relies on processes in which an expectation of privileged treatment is conveyed, recognised and responded to by others.
p43 The second lesson is that, in a democracy at least, civil servants in positions of power can resist pressure to give preferment, even from the most powerful. However, it comes with serious risks and takes personal courage, a quality that, in truth, is rare.
The most valuable conclusion I draw from the book is that while gender and racial diversity are improving in many areas, class diversity is worsening. This is evidenced by the high schools attended by recipients of Rhodes scholarships, AOs, and high court judges.
What particularly impresses me about the book is its discussion on volunteer tourism. Elite private schools use “poor communities in the global South as sites where privileged students create their ‘portfolio self’, enhance their travel experiences, hone their competence as future leaders, and burnish their CVs” (page 85). The authors critique that this perpetuates a “colonial tradition” still evident in private schools.
The authors further elevate the discussion to philanthropy, arguing that the very wealthy see themselves as hyper-agents, believing only they—embodying the technofix mindset—should be entrusted with public welfare concerns, rather than governments. As a result, foundations set up by the rich, such as the Gates Foundation, “distort global health priorities”. People who work for charitable organizations, like the World Health Organization, may practice self-censorship out of fear of losing monetary support from these foundations if they challenge the notions of the wealthy. Additionally, the rich form alliances with cultural organizations, such as national galleries, to lobby the government on taxation regulations through substantial donations.
Under market liberalism, the wealthy’s ideology becomes dominant, influencing public discourse through alliances with cultural and social capital.
Moreover, the authors discuss strategies used by the rich to legitimize and naturalize their wealth. For instance, they embrace a meritocratic philosophy, emphasizing the hard work they put into increasing their wealth and dismissing the privileges they have or the socioeconomic backgrounds they were born into. They may also differentiate themselves from the “bad rich” by viewing themselves as “conscious spenders”, as if financial privilege no longer exists if consumption decisions are prudent (page 163).
On a personal level, I had my eureka moment when reading that the Rhodes scholarship asks recipients to exemplify positive social engagement. The authors argue that students from low socioeconomic backgrounds may be occupied with caring for family members, limiting their opportunities for such engagement. And the authors also argue that women are more reluctant to exploit networks for personal gain compared with their wealthy male counterparts.
Overall, it is an intriguing read that focuses on the reproduction of elites. The authors argue that social cohesion and democracy deteriorate when class diversity declines and propose solutions, such as challenge panels, to help ensure diverse class representation.
🔖 p31 The idea of doing privilege suggests that privilege is interactional, an 'emergent feature of social situations' The bestowal of privilege relies on processes in which an expectation of privileged treatment is conveyed, recognised and responded to by others.
p43 The second lesson is that, in a democracy at least, civil servants in positions of power can resist pressure to give preferment, even from the most powerful. However, it comes with serious risks and takes personal courage, a quality that, in truth, is rare.
September 27, 2024
This book is an academic study about how elite people benefit from many advantages that societies consciously or unconsciously provide.
This research is an attempt to understand the machinery of privilege and the way it works. It explores various aspects of it including politics, geography, charities, schools, economic and social harms, and psychic harms. It is based on an Australian survey and focus group conversations from Melbourne and Sydney.
It is an essential read for those who want to understand the less visible layers of society that have been lived and enjoyed by few.
In the preface of the book, authors write: "[This book] might even work as a kind of therapy through the power of knowing.". Like the authors, I hope this book goes beyond that and initiates conversations that result in good changes to a progressive society.
This research is an attempt to understand the machinery of privilege and the way it works. It explores various aspects of it including politics, geography, charities, schools, economic and social harms, and psychic harms. It is based on an Australian survey and focus group conversations from Melbourne and Sydney.
It is an essential read for those who want to understand the less visible layers of society that have been lived and enjoyed by few.
In the preface of the book, authors write: "[This book] might even work as a kind of therapy through the power of knowing.". Like the authors, I hope this book goes beyond that and initiates conversations that result in good changes to a progressive society.
August 29, 2024
a profound insight into the elite classes machinations and textured systems of accruing and reproducing capital (in a bourdeiusian sense) across generations, and the means and mediums in which they use to justify and validate rising wealth inequality between classes.
September 11, 2024
A damming indictment upon the social, economic and educational structures that support the elite in Australia. It should be a clarion call to politicians but sadly will probably be ignored as those called out are the ones with the levers of power.
September 8, 2024
Provides interesting insights into elite privilege, with an Australian lens
April 10, 2025
Occasionally a book comes along which is so important that it should be compulsory reading for everyone in our country. This is an example of one.
December 12, 2024
an unbelievably insightful piece of scholarship. mandatory reading for all australians, especially those who experienced the privilege of private schooling
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews