Taking Stock: Elite Studies and Social Change
Ajdacic Lena1, Schoenberger François2, Behr Johanna1,3
1University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
The British Journal of Sociology
|April 7, 2026
Summary
Contemporary elite sociology often overlooks intentionality in social change. This review highlights how elites reshape society, emphasizing the need for future research on their active role in transformation and stability.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Social Stratification
- Power Dynamics
Background:
- Elite sociology analyzes social change and stability.
- Distinguishes between change within elites (composition, circulation) and change by elites (reshaping social structures).
Purpose of the Study:
- Systematically synthesize contemporary elite sociology research.
- Analyze the temporal perspectives (change and stability) in elite studies.
- Identify patterns in elite sociology concerning elite types and research topics.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of 164 empirical articles.
- Published in leading sociology journals from 2000 to 2024.
- Examined combinations of elite types and research topics.
Main Results:
- Elite sociology extensively uses temporal perspectives, but asymmetrically.
- Nationality studies focus on evolution; kinship and class studies on continuity.
- Elite-driven social change is often portrayed as unintentional, not strategic.
Conclusions:
- Future research should explore understudied dynamics and temporal spectrums.
- Investigate elite intentionality as agents of change.
- Integrate forward-looking perspectives on elite-shaped trajectories and power relations.
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