Research Methods for Elite Studies

By: George Moyser (Editor), Margaret Wagstaffe (Editor)

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eText | 30 June 2025 | Edition Number 1

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Elites are crucial groups of people in all but the very simplest societies. Whether one is concerned with politics and government, the economy, or the wider culture and structure of society, they are the people who occupy the central positions of influence that, in turn, enable them to help shape the character and direction of the whole society.

But who exactly are they, and how does one study them? In sharp contrast to the ordinary citizenry, the methodology for the study of elites was contentious and under-developed at the time. Originally published in 1987, Research Methods for Elite Studies provided a wide-ranging survey of the techniques, problems, issues and practicalities of elite research. These are explored through case studies conducted by a range of experts, all personally involved in the field of elite research about which they write. Methodology here is not divorced from substance, but vividly set in its context by the researchers.

Research Methods for Elite Studies is directed to all social scientists who seek to understand the working of the powerful in society. In particular, those concerned with political power, with the functioning of social and political institutions, with economic enterprises, and above all with the diverse variety of leaders in society, will find the volume essential reading.