Pathways to Power: Class, Hyper-Agency and the French Corporate Elite

Click here to view record
Main author: Maclean, Mairi
Other authors: Harvey, Charles
Kling, Gerhard
Format: Journal Article           
Online access: Click here to view record


id eprints-17823
recordtype eprints
institution SOAS, University of London
collection SOAS Research Online
language English
language_search English
description This paper explores pathways to power from the perspective of the French corporate elite. It compares those who enter the ‘field of power’ with those who fail to reach this final tier. Adopting an innovative econometric approach, we develop and test three hypotheses. These underline the pivotal role of external networks and the strategic advantage of hyper-agency in maintaining power; and indicate that social origin remains a powerful driver in determining success. Birthright and meritocracy emerge as two competing institutional logics which influence life chances. Higher-status agents benefit from mutual recognition which enhances their likelihood of co-option to the extra-corporate networks that facilitate hyper-agency. The objectification of class-based differences conceals their arbitrary nature while institutionalizing the principles informing stratification. We re-connect class analysis with organizational theory, arguing that social origin exerts an enduring influence on selection dynamics which inform processes of hierarchical reproduction in the corporate elite and society at large.
format Journal Article
author Maclean, Mairi
author_facet Maclean, Mairi
Harvey, Charles
Kling, Gerhard
authorStr Maclean, Mairi
author_letter Maclean, Mairi
author2 Harvey, Charles
Kling, Gerhard
author2Str Harvey, Charles
Kling, Gerhard
title Pathways to Power: Class, Hyper-Agency and the French Corporate Elite
publisher Sage
publishDate 2014
url https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/17823/

Similar items