The Contested Status of Political Elites: At the Crossroads

ISBN-13: 9780415792158 / Angielski / Twarda / 2018 / 264 str.

Lars Vogel; Ronald Gebauer; Axel Salheiser

Opis

Using a theoretical and empirical approach, this book investigates the structure and impact of political elites in contemporary democracies. It looks at two assumptions of the inevitability of political elites and the necessity of their constant adjustment to social and political challenges in order to survive and resolves this by addressing perspectives on the possible decline of elite autonomy. The core argument being that structure and behavior of political elites is the outcome of social and political development interaction constituting challenges and strategies to cope. The book includes contributions from reputable scholars in the field of elite research and presents comparative case studies by area specialists on individual political systems across Europe and the US. It provides an analytical framework demonstrating that political elites are inevitable and potentially able to respond successfully to varying challenges. The book will be of key interest to scholars and students of European Politics, political elites, democracy, comparative politics and political participation.

Spis treści

1. Contested Status: Contemporary Challenges to Political Elites and Elite Responses [Lars Vogel, Ronald Gebauer, and Axel Salheiser]  PART I: Elite Autonomy and Security in Modern Democracies  2. Elite Autonomy and Post-Industrial Problems of Employment [John Higley]  3. On the (Lack of) Autonomy of Political Elites as Representatives [Jean-Pascal Daloz]  4. Economic Elites – Political Elites: Scenes from a Symbiosis [Heinrich Best]  5. European Citizens and Elites in Times of Economic Crisis and Citizen Unrest [Ursula Hoffmann-Lange and Mindaugas Kuklys]  Part II: (Changing) Elite Structure  6. Degradable Elites? Modes and Factors of Parliamentary Turnover in Europe in the Early 21st Century [Luca Verzichelli]  7. When Political Elites Select Political Elites: Insights into Accumulation of Autonomous Political Capital [Daniel Gaxie]  8. Careers of Long-Standing Legislators and Making of the Parliamentary Elite: Evidence from 25 Baltic Parliaments [Mindaugas Kuklys]  9. Recruitment of Technocrats in Romanian Cabinets [Laurenţiu Ştefan]  10. Farewell to the Party Elites? Politically Inexperienced Ministers in Central and Eastern European Cabinets [Elena Semenova]  Part III: (Changing) Elite Attitudes and Behavior  11. Irresponsible Elites in Opposition and Government: The Hungarian Case [Gabriella Ilonszki and György Lengvel]  12. Theorists of their Own Practice: Democracy as Seen by Weimar Politicians [Jens Borchert]  13. Immigration and its Consequences for European Integration: A Multi-Level Analysis of European National Representatives’ Perceptions [Ronald Gebauer and Lars Vogel]