1. Issues on European Political elites
Luca Verzichelli
PhD Sociology and Political Science - SNS
Academic year

2. Old and new Elitism Mosca [1896] and the idea of the Ruling class
Pareto [1916] and the dynamics of the Elite circulation
Michels [1911] and the iron law of oligarchy
Weber and Shumpeter are also considered classic elitists although their notion of elite is already “contemporary”.
The debate in North America between pluralists and elitists and most of the behaviouralist scholars are inspired by the European theory of elites
Even a “neo-marxist elitism”?
A new paradigm? Robert Putnam [1976] claims for a comparative and empirical approach. Later, Higley and Field propose a new theoretical perspective based on “new elitism”

3. Political change and the problem of Elite circulation
The notion from Pareto [1916]: challenging elite groups (lions and foxes). Circulation as a “normal” pace of elite change
Politics as a Profession [Weber 1919]. Political organizations should be able to control the selection of the new elites
 the idea of political professionalisation
The democratisation of elites [Putnam 1976]. Still the time of political professionalisation but with new (technical) skills.
 the idea of political accountability
The new elitism [Higley and Field 1980]: elite settlement as the most effective driver of political stability
 the idea of political attitude to bargain

4. How to measure elite change?
An old question and different answers. For instance: quantitative measurements of elite turnover, different impact of elite accountability, studies on elite continuity, salience of elite discourse
Recent developments
- increasing rate of circulation at the entry-level
- stability of top-elite level and personalisation of politics
- decreasing impact of party membership but increasing involvement of party activists in leader selection

5. A typology of political change based on the rate of elite turnover
Adapted by Best, Hausmann and Schmitt 2000

6. Slow but uninterrupted increase of parliamentary turnover in Europe (11 countries)

7. Elites and the question of democratic transformation
New elitist approach built on Shumpeter and Lasswell
(Sartori, the theory of democracy revisited, 1987)
Different focus on elite theory from the studies of democratic dynamics
(Huntington, the Third wave, 1991 vs. Przeworski and others)
Focus on policy outcomes and transformation of policy communities
(different approaches)
Cultural and historical path dependencies
(Putnam, Beliefs of politicians, 1976; Making democracy works, 1993, Bowling alone, 2000)
Elite centred theories not mentioning elites:
- Actor-centred institutionalism
- Rational choice institutionalism

8. Persistent emphasis on elites’ role … … but with some variations
Elites should rule. But they are differently responsible and differently stratifies (experts, networks, interactions …). Citizens choose between elite proposals but by means of different democratic tools. Result should be an efficient government but with new system of control over elite’s action. Politics is still too (or even more) complex for average citizens. But we should avoid apathy

9. Redefining all the representative institutions Challenges to elites or other?
Reintroducing the argument of the decline of representative institutions (quest for participatoy democracy and deliberative democracy)
Decline of party-democracy and emphasis on public opinion (Manin)
Counter-democracy and new social pluralism (Rosanvallon)
Still a relevant role of representative institution but challenges from social complexity, immigration, etc.