The Anthropology of Elites Power, Culture, and the Complexities of Distinction

A fascinating array of ethnographic and theoretical relevant case studies, this book is timely and topical in combining substantial new historical and ethnographic material about elites. Case studies include the Polish gentry, the white former colonial elite of Mauritius, professional elites, and transnational (financial) elites, with queries about power, culture, distinction, and marginalization. The focus on elites from an anthropological perspective makes a significant contribution to explaining numerous and often paradoxical aspects of elites, their behavior, their position and their relationship with other social groupings.

Jon Abbink is a senior researcher at the African Studies Centre in Leiden and a research professor of African Studies at VU University. His anthropological research has been in the Middle East and in Northeast Africa, especially in Ethiopia on ethnic relations, the politics of ethnicity and local conflict. His current interests are the comparative anthropology and political culture of Northeast Africa and religion and politics in Africa. Among his books are: Meanings of Violence: A Cross-Cultural Perspective (edited, with G. Aijmer, 2000) and Land, Law and Politics in Africa: Mediating Conflict and Reshaping the State (edited, with M. de Bruijn, 2011). His essays have appeared in the Journal of Eastern African Studies, African Affairs, and Social Anthropology.

Tijo Salverda is a postdoctoral fellow with the Human Economy Programme at the University of Pretoria. His interests lie especially in the study of elites and power. Tijo's current research interests are the investment side in large scale land acquisition in southern Africa and globally operating financial elites. His essays have appeared in Comparative Sociology and Dilemmas of Development: Conflicts of Interests and Their Resolutions in Modernizing Africa (edited by Jon Abbink and André van Dokkum).