Elites: A General Model

by Murray Milner Jr.

At a time when significant social status, economic resources, and political opportunities seem to become ever more unequally distributed and only available to a few, 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 drawing attention to the important role of non-elites, this accessibly written book provides novel insights into the structure of historical and contemporary societies.Milner identifies the sources and structures of economic, political, and cultural power, and investigates patterns of cooperation and conflict between and within elite groups. Analyzing politicians and propagandists, landowners and capitalists, national heroes and celebrities, ordinary folks and outcasts, the book applies its model to 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 useful for an array of courses in sociology, political science, and history.

Genres: Sociology

216 pages, ebook

First published November 30, 2014

Reviews

[bks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Milner proposed a descriptive model of the elite system: elites and non-elites. She analyzed status elites in India caste system, political in classical Greece, and economical in modern US. A recurrent theme is power and legitimacy, obtained by demonizing the lowest strata or by association with other elites. She doesn't attack, just describe it.

[Ethan McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cogent, neutral, and empirical, Milner's model is relevant and operable for analyzing most complex societies.