Thematic Network "Sociology of elites
Call for Papers
Congress of the AFS - "Building (s) and innovation (s)"
Grenoble - July 2011
The standard textbooks of sociology remind any-e-e sociologist beginning: between fascination for the subject "and" all-round denunciation, "the sociology of the bourgeoisie or ruling class often runs the risk of passing" near "its object. Between "tax effect" and "symbolic violence", the risk is probably intensified when analyzing the report "elites" (a concept that may invite to naturalize the dominant social positions) to " creation and innovation "(two words that evoke" change "but what can regularly mobilize social actors to legitimize their positions and their immediate interests yet constant).
To circumvent this epistemological double trap, the choice was made to decline our call for papers in three axes. In the first area, we invite participants to the discourse on creation and innovation for the object. In the latter two areas, we invite participants to consider the terms "innovation" and "creation" as synonymous with "transformation" or "objective changes" observed by the sociologist.
Axis 1 "Innovation", "ethics", "environment", "social economy" ...: new forms of legitimation of entrepreneurship
The first round table will focus on contemporary forms of legitimation of entrepreneurship and management . Making the honor of the theme of innovation and creativity will be an opportunity here to draw on the work of Boltanski and Thévenot Chiapello on new forms of legitimation of economic activities and "The new spirit of capitalism "by questioning the contemporary forms of justification and promotion of the company.
This will return about erasing old terminology in favor of stories: loss of boss the benefit of the contractor, promotion management textbooks "actor network" capable of carrying out "projects" , recovery of "mobility", "skills" of the worker ...
If the analysis of text corpora is of course a relevant method to account for this continuous updating of the vocabulary entrepreneurial, priority will be given to proposals particularly communication on how these forms of legitimacy embodied also and foremost in practical devices: financial products supposedly "ethical" promotion prize "green" businesses, shows the "entrepreneur" books highlighting " the social economy, "sociologists of work and organizations promoting" management by competencies, "consulting firms" social negotiation "
... It will be understood more than just speeches or rhetorical forms, it is well institutions and actors promoting a "new spirit Business "which will be used here for analysis and discussion.
Axis 2: Training and reproduction of elites between innovations and changes
long training of elites in France has been closely associated with the system of high schools and, consequently, the State was the principal officer and beneficiary. Thus, the study of the formation of elites could easily reach a sociology of the state, including its central government. Different processes seem
however challenging this model these years. First, the state service is less and less searched, less time at least, by the new members of the great body pantouflent increasingly earlier and more definitive. Then there is a strong phenomenon of empowerment great schools vis-à-vis large body: questioning the principle of "boot", contests output changing lessons without consultation with line ministries, focusing partnerships in American universities ... Alongside this, the major business schools who occupied a position of relative marginal in the universe of large schools tend to be increasingly recognized, often in combination with another major school as ENA. Finally, the development of curriculum abroad (especially in Anglo-Saxon universities), the rise of the disciplines of management (in business schools as the University) and the weakening of some traditional training (such that the curriculum of law) contribute to a redistribution of resources and positions in the school world.
What do these trends? Assists Is there a renewal of the French elites or, rather, their adaptation to changes of the moment: the withdrawal of the state, the rise of private finance and globalization?
can then examine the specifics of such training schools operated by large, in terms of training other elite national, European and international or local, especially in the context of traffic from one scale to another.
In this sense, we are interested in diversity and redefinitions of types of resources that contribute to the production of elites as social background, holding economic capital and cultural routes and relationships abroad, scientific disciplines mastered, the first professional experiences valued, etc..
Finally we may wonder to what extent the policies of affirmative action (quotas for women on electoral lists and boards) are not disturbed or conventional circuits for producing elite.
Axis 3: Elites and Social Stratification: between line breeding and new forms of social mobility
This third and last area of discussion will cover the new forms of social stratification within the dominant groups, and mobility processes that characterize them, extending the analysis to a perspective of "global" or international.
It will first be asked to what extent the terms "traditional" reproducing dominant categories (transmission of family arrangements and heritage, socialization in separate universes, etc..) Or not affected by the dynamics socio-economic progress: economic globalization and in particular "emergence" of new national elites, and financial crisis challenge to Western domination, increasing competition nationally and international education, dissemination of new cultural goods (mainly because of technological innovation) and transformation of lifestyles. Reproduction positions based on family, heritage, values, she is stronger than ever or, conversely, several new trends are they likely to mitigate the centrality?
We will also ask to what extent access to dominant positions in France and other countries, was "closed" or otherwise "open" during the last period, specifying any differences cross: Do we observe, for example, closure of access to popular categories leading political positions, a tightening of the recruitment base of large schools (and why?), the appearance and the assertion in the economic universe of new elites employed "meritocratic" in very high income (traders, athletes, artists grand public, etc..)? Which sectors are the most "open" and, conversely, the more "closed" access to "new entrants"?
Quantitative analysis on changes in income inequality, wealth, but also that of social differentiation in terms of consumption and lifestyle among the dominant groups will identify major trends characteristic of relations between the different fractions or sectors: increasing power elites of finance since the 1980s, the relative decline of the senior civil service, academia and intellectual transformation of "social values" in favor of economic and managerial elites. They will also discuss the reality of differentiations increasing internal within each sector, their nature and their causes: the effect of competition policies, new forms of remuneration and career management, etc..
attention may finally be paid to methodological issues surrounding these issues. How to measure mobility and inequality within groups sometimes seemingly homogenous? How to account for the emergence of new dividing lines and "barriers" internal? How to describe and measure the unequal resources that can draw on different social groups?
Paper proposals can be sent to Sylvain Laurens is in charge of centralizing the proposals for the office of RT sociology of elites ( sylvainlaurens@free.fr )
