Understanding Rulers Across the World: Jean Blondel and the study of Ministerial Elites

Abstract

The panel is conceived at first as an appreciation of the work of Jean Blondel in the field of political elites and, more specifically, to the analysis of ministerial élite and governmental leaders. A series of fundamental volumes – which includes World Leaders (1980), Government Ministers in the Contemporary World (1985), Political leadership (1987), The Profession of Government Ministers in Western Europe, still constitutes the fundamental set of references for the students of executive elites all over the world. Moreover, Blondel has insisted, until the end of his prolific career, on the global dimension of comparative analysis. The panel, therefore, accepts papers referring directly to Jean’s restless work of systematization of theoretical and empirical assessment on “who are the leaders” in contemporary political regimes. discussing and adapting his findings and questions. However, applying the true logic of Blondel’s approach to global comparative politics, the panel also invites paper proposals with more original and innovative approaches to the topic of ministerial élites and leaders. In particular, the panel will consider fresher theoretical considerations and new explorative attempts to the study of executive élites in a difficult time like the one we are living.

Title	Details
Who represents the working-class? Introducing and implementing a life-course approach to the study of class representation	View Paper Details
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Jean Blondel and his legacy in the study of the Latin American Executive elite	View Paper Details
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