A Scandinavian Variety of Power Elites? – Key Institutional Orders in the Danish Elite Networks

Anton Grau Larsen, Christoph Houman Ellersgaard

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    Abstract

    Identifying the most privileged and powerful individuals in a society is always controversial. Whereas media and popular culture turn the discussion of power and privilege into entertainment, the social sciences, particularly in Denmark, have refrained from engaging in discussion on the distribution of power and privilege in society, or have at least kept this discussion out of harm’s way by retaining it in a strictly theoretical universe. By not invoking a public imagery of the powerful, the social sciences leave the floor open for conspiracy theorists, political populism and general disenchantment to explain how privilege and power remain in the hands of the same people. In this chapter, we therefore aim to answer a simple, yet complex question: who are the members of the most powerful group in Danish society?
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationNew Directions in Elite Studies
    EditorsOlav Korsnes, Johan Heilbron, Johs. Hjellbrekke, Felix Bühlmann, Mike Savage
    Number of pages17
    Place of PublicationAbingdon
    PublisherRoutledge
    Publication date2018
    Pages133-149
    Chapter7
    ISBN (Print)9781138059191
    ISBN (Electronic)9781351672221
    Publication statusPublished - 2018
    SeriesRoutledge Advances in Sociology
    Number237

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