Elites in French Society : : The Politics of Survival / / Ezra N. Suleiman.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter Princeton Legacy Lib. eBook Package 1931-1979
• VerfasserIn: Suleiman, Ezra N.,
• MitwirkendeR: Suleiman, Ezra N.,
• Place / Publishing House: Princeton, NJ : : Princeton University Press, , [2015]; ©1979
• Year of Publication: 2015
• Language: English
• Series: Princeton Legacy Library ; 1580
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (316 p.)

Why do some elites survive while others do not? How do certain institutions manage to preserve their importance in the face of crises, instability, and change? How does a democratic society legitimize elitist institutions? Combining the use of important social theories-particularly those of Mosca, Schumpeter, Tocqueville, and Pareto-with empirical analysis, Ezra Suleiman tries to answer these questions in his examination of the dominance and stability of France's governing elites.The author draws on original survey data, historical evidence, and specialized documentary sources. His three part discussion deals, first, with the state institutions that nurture the French elite; second, with the organization, legitimization, and adaptation of the elite and its institutions; and third, with some of the policy and political implications of France's elitist system. In the final section of his book, he closely examines the relationship between elites in the public and private sectors. In his investigation of France's "state-created" elites, Professor Suleiman shows the great importance of the grandes écoles in training and promoting the elites, and the grand corps in providing a base from which the elites launch themselves into extra-governmental careers. He also finds that the elites' capacity to adapt to an evolving social, political, and economic environment is a major factor in their ability to survive.Originally published in 1979.The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- CONTENTS -- LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- INTRODUCTION -- Part One. FOUNDATIONS -- Chapter One. STATE-CREATED ELITES -- Chapter Two. THE BASIS OF ELITE FORMATION: THE UNIVERSITIES VS. THE GRANDES ECOLES -- Chapter Three. THE SANCTITY OF THE GRANDES ECOLES -- Part Two. SURVIVAL -- Chapter Four. POSITIONS -- Chapter Five. SELF-IMAGE AND LEGITIMACY -- Chapter Six. NON SPECIALIZATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEXTERITY -- Chapter Seven. ADAPTATION -- Part Three. CONSEQUENCES -- Chapter Eight. THE ELITE AND THE NEW ECONOMY -- Chapter Nine. THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE STATE -- Chapter Ten. CONCLUSION -- BIBLIOGRAPHY -- INDEX -- Backmatter