Local Elites In Western Democracies

Download or read book Local Elites In Western Democracies written by Samuel J. Eldersveld and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2019-03-07 with total page 262 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Much insightful scholarship has been devoted to the elaboration of the nature and functions of elites in modern societies. The theories and paradigms which have emerged have evoked both strong support as well as considerable criticism. Testing this conception of the role of elites is a primary goal of the analysis presented here. We investigate in great detail in these three democratic systems the level of elites' concern for their problems, their sense of responsibility (and power) to act, their relations with community groups and the public, and their values. And throughout the analysis we keep in mind the question of "effective action." This study both builds on and diverges from the early comparative research on local elites.