Abstract
We explore the meaning and implications of Bourdieu?s construct of the field of power and integrate it into a wider conception of the formation and functioning of elites at the highest level in society. Corporate leaders active within the field of power hold prominent roles in numerous organizations, constituting an ?elite of elites?, whose networks integrate powerful participants from different fields. As ?bridging actors?, they form coalitions to determine institutional settlements and societal resource flows. We ask how some corporate actors (minority) become hyper-agents, those actors who ?make things happen?, while others (majority) remain ?ordinary? members of the elite. Three hypotheses are developed and tested using extensive data on the French business elite. Social class emerges as persistently important, challenging the myth of meritocratic inclusion. Our primary contribution to Bourdieusian scholarship lies in our analysis of hyper-agents, revealing the debts these dominants owe to elite schools and privileged classes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 127-151 |
| Number of pages | 25 |
| Journal | Theory, Culture and Society |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue number | 5-6 |
| Early online date | 3 Jul 2017 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Sept 2017 |
Bibliographical note
Accepted version of a forthcoming article to be published by Sage.Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Editor Mike Featherstone, Aeron Davis, Karel Williams, the five anonymous reviewers, and participants at the ‘Elite Powers Today’ workshop held at Goldsmiths, University of London, in May 2014, for their valuable comments on our paper.
Keywords
- Bordieu
- elite careers
- field of power
- French corporate elite
- hyper-agency
- network analysis
- social class
- social mobility