Books & ideas

The Endless Corruption of the Powerful

Alizée Delpierre — 2024-01-23T08:30:00Z

Building on his research on corruption and white-collar crime among the ruling classes, Pierre Lascoumes takes us deep into the institutional mechanisms behind the fraud perpetrated by those who wield political and economic power in France.

Emotions at Work

Lauren A. Rivera — 2020-11-02T08:00:00Z

Are hiring decisions based on objective facts and rational thinking? Contrary to what portrayals of homo economicus suggest, emotion is a fundamental basis of decision-making. This is especially true when it comes to candidate evaluation, as Lauren Rivera shows in her study of the recruitment process in elite professional service firms.

Domination Among the Auditors

Gaëtan Flocco — 2019-11-04T08:00:00Z

How do we account for the “voluntary servitude” that reigns in auditing firms? A survey of their employees shows the cause can be found in the spirit of competition and the cult of elitism.

Discreetly Ostentatious

Ève Sihra — 2018-06-28T07:00:00Z

Traditionally, the dominant classes displayed their superiority by flaunting their wealth through their purchases. According to Elizabeth Currid-Halkett, the affirmation of status is undergoing a dramatic transformation and is now expressed by far more discreet signifiers, where distinction is the new ostentation.

The Elite Paradigm

Jan Pakulski — 2017-10-12T07:00:00Z

Influenced by Weber, Marx and Bourdieu, Milner undertakes, in his latest book, to revamp a general model of elites and nonelites. Adopting a historical approach, he defines the contours of power relations in three very distinct civilisations in an attempt to provide an updated analytical framework.

White Collars, Dirty Hands and Clean Records

Jean Bérard — 2015-06-25T05:30:00Z

How do the elites manage to commit crimes without being seen, or seeing themselves, as criminals? This overview by P. Lascoumes and C. Nagels shows the means deployed by the powerful to define, use, sidestep, or avoid criminal law according to their interests.

Comparing Success

Dominique Merllié — 2014-07-17T07:30:00Z

Through a comparative study of France, India and the United States, Jules Naudet's book shows how certain “instituted ideologies” specific to each country are either a barrier or a resource when it comes to moving from a dominated social situation to a dominant occupational position.

With or Without the Chinese People?

Émilie Frenkiel — 2013-04-08T09:52:30Z

How do Chinese intellectuals construe social instability? This essay maps out the debate on democracy in early 21^st century China and explains how, despite diverse viewpoints, widespread elitist views describe common citizens as obstacles to rapid democratization.

Two cities with School Segregation? 2/2

Marco Oberti — 2012-04-27T06:49:12Z

French programs of “positive discrimination” are supposed to help open elite education to socially disadvantaged students. While challenging the idea that diversity is truly promoted in the United States, a comparative study of current trends in Paris and Chicago show the opacity of the selection criteria in Paris, and the existence of a clear geographical segregation.

Two cities with School Segregation? 1/2

Marco Oberti — 2012-04-26T15:36:08Z