Understanding the Political Class: Comparing the Backgrounds and Previous Experience of Political Elites

Abstract

This panel addresses questions about the creation, formation or transformation of a political class (Borchert and Zeiss 2003; Ruostetsaari 2003). The panel will reflect on the usefulness of the concept of political class, how it has been operationalised and how to use it in comparative analysis. We are interested in papers that consider the changing dynamics of political recruitment and political careers; focusing on who gets selected and elected for political office, who gets promoted to senior positions and the extent to which politicians move between political institutions (Norris 1997; Norris and Lovenduski 1995; Stolz 2003). Contributions might assess variations in the professionalisation of politics; asking whether there has been a rise in the number of career politicians and whether they are more successful in achieving promotion than their colleagues (Allen Forthcoming; Best and Cotta 2000; Borchert 2011). We ask whether there are multiple career ‘trajectories’ associated with different entry qualifications. Papers that consider the concept of political class in comparative perspective or single case studies that that assess change over time are particularly welcome. Equally we are interested in papers that assess whether there has been a diversification in the social demographics of election candidates, perhaps using measures of race, ethnicity, gender or social class. Papers might include analysis of the relationship between candidates’ characteristics and the likelihood that they are selected for winnable seats or placed in prominent positions on party lists. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches and theoretical papers are welcome.

Title	Details
All Change But Still the Same? The Professionalisation of Politics in Britain	View Paper Details
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Do Gender Quotas Produce a Different Class of Politician?	View Paper Details
Learning, Legislating or Leaving: Explaining Behaviour According to Parliamentary Career Stage	View Paper Details