New and Old Path to Economic Power: Social Origins and Recruitment of Managing Elites

The transition to the new century in Latin America display several changes and challenges.  Democratization processes had to overcome multiple economic and political crises, left` turn over and new economic grow cycle.  Despite of Uruguay is a small country has high human development and outstanding democratic legacy in Latin America. As well as many countries during the last decades had many political and economic changes.

Economic globalization in the last two decades modifies the structure of economic power and impact into business elite integration.  On the one hand, the increasing influence of the transnational companies rose to new managing elites. Corporate elites are based on cultural capital background, management abilities and specialized knowledge, university management professions, social global networks. On the other hand, the traditional entrepreneurs recruited through family prestige and inherited capital, exclusive business membership and local networks linked to political power.

Moreover, the left` turn over in Uruguay had several consequences on recruitment of management elites based on trade union and political capital background.

The study inquires about recruitment processes and careers of senior managers (CEO, MD).  The paper identifies business elites´ relationships (social origins, family, education, work, leisure time) and political networks. The study researches 100 senior managers´ biographies of the majors companies (private and public sector) in Uruguay.  The study is based on biographical and prosopographical methodologies - obituaries, curriculum vitae, social networks- .

Miguel Serna Phd. Professor (Gr.4), Full time Sociology Department, School of Social Sciences, University of the Republic, Researcher  II level  National System of Researchers, Uruguay