Elites: paradigm and change in transnational perspective

The crucial position of elite is well acknow ledged in the comparative analysis of govern ment and politics. Over the decades, the elite paradigm is back on the agenda of Social Science. This volume breaks a new ground by bringing together a broad framework of elite from seemingly opposed Socio-political Sys tems. From North America to Western Europe, from Africa to Asia-all the world's elite-capi talist, socialist, democratic; from the modem West to the transitional societies of the East the mixed plurality of elite lie open here to our scrutiny.

Part 1 of the volume discusses elites in Europe and America, particularly professional elite, academic elite and political elite.

Part II covers a mix of the political elite and administrative elite in the dark world of Africa and less developed societies of Asia especially, the process of elite formation in the peripheral societies.

Part III is devoted exclusively to the development perspective in India in which the role of the emerging power elite, the less explored economic elite, etc., has been identi fied.

Part NV analyses theoretically the changing perspective of elite paradigm, from the governing elite to the administrative elite. This volume which is the first one in the series on Elites: Paradigm and Change' is transnational in ideas and vision and global in scope.