Discussing the Challenges of a Sociology of Global Elites

Elites are under scrutiny and the field of elite research has flourished as both a critical observer as well as an active reporter of practices, consumption and cultural meanings associated to privilege. I discuss four challeges derived from editing the Oxford Handbook of the Sociology of Global Elites:

1) how to address the issue of power in globalised but also situated contexts, varieties of capitalism and stages of neoliberalism in different parts of the world?. how to bring to the forefront sociohistorical accounts that arise from the critical encounter and disruption with theories produced in the Global North.

2) how to address contemporary forms of elites’ internal fragmentation, distinction and diversity?. Is this a matter of studying elites in different fields (political power, culture, economic power, public bureaucracies, sciences, among others)? Is there space for new elites (indigenous people, orange economy, etc.)?. How to adopt a relational and dynamic perspective to hierarchies and fragmentation within contemporary elites, as well as to their relations with and boundaries drawn towards other groups and social classes?.

3) how to address space?: how to respond to recent calls for more attention to the multidimensional urban geographies and demographies of elite reproduction and transformation by giving particular relevance to cities and urban landscapes as key arenas where capital accumulation, consumption take place? what is the role of contemporary elites in shaping cities in different parts of the world; exploring the role of the elites in redefining urban civic and financial centers; understanding the ways in which the elites define urban reputations, aesthetics and senses of belonging at different urban scales, etc.).

4) what to do conceptually?: are we addressing correctly contemporary forms of social reproduction among the elites? what is the role of other notions such as privilege or wealth accumulation?