Surveying Elites. Learning from Different Experiences, Geographic Areas and Methodologies

Abstract

In all societies, important decisions are taken, directly or indirectly, by a reduced number of people with great power in the policy-making process: the elites. In democratic societies, elites, when taking decisions, have to take into account the opinion, values and attitudes of general public, otherwise, it should be wondered whether that society is a real democracy. Historically, researchers have defined and measured this concept in a variety of ways, both quantitative and qualitative, and analysed their values and attitudes, specially their similarities to the citizens they represent in their societies. From governmental and/or parliamentary elites, to a more ample definition of elites including all key sectors of each society, (media, trade unions, religion or military); and, from national elites to local or regional elites. This panel comprises papers focusing on all these issues: Different definitions and operationalisations of elites over the years; questionnaire design for experts interview; experience from different areas in Latin America, Africa o Europe; political, social or cultural elites; and, national and regional levels elites.

Title	Details
Detached and out of touch? Political Elites between public criticism and logic of professionalization	View Paper Details
Parliamentary elites in Latin America	View Paper Details
Surveying elites in Africa. Two decades of experience	View Paper Details
Regional elites. The case of multilevel parliaments in Spain	View Paper Details
Elites. Historical definitions and approaches	View Paper Details