organization studies 2012 reed 203 21

8/9/2019 Organization Studies 2012 Reed 203 21

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/organization-studies-2012-reed-203-21 1/35

Downloaded from oss.sagepub.com at KoBSON on August 26, 201

Organ!"at!on Stud!es#ttp$%%oss.sagepub.com%

Masters of the Universe: Power and Elites in Organization Studies&!c#ael '. (eed

Organization Studies 2012 $ 20DO'$ 10.11))%01)0*+0611+0-0

#e onl!ne /ers!on of t#!s art!cle can be found at$#ttp$%%oss.sagepub.com%content%%2%20

ubl!s#ed b$

#ttp$%%www.sagepubl!cat!ons.com

On be#alf of$

uropean 3roup for Organ!"at!onal Stud!es

Additional services and information for Organization Studies can be found at:

Email Alerts: #ttp$%%oss.sagepub.com%cg!%alerts

Subscriptions: #ttp$%%oss.sagepub.com%subscr!pt!ons

Reprints: #ttp$%%www.sagepub.com%4ournals(epr!nts.na/

Permissions: #ttp$%%www.sagepub.com%4ournalserm!ss!ons.na/

55 ers!on of (ecord 7 8eb 2, 2012

9#at !s #!s:

http://oss.sagepub.com/




http://oss.sagepub.com/content/33/2/203

http://www.sagepublications.com/

http://oss.sagepub.com/cgi/alerts


http://oss.sagepub.com/subscriptions

http://www.sagepub.com/journalsReprints.nav

http://www.sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav

http://oss.sagepub.com/content/33/2/203.full.pdf


http://oss.sagepub.com/content/33/2/203

http://www.sagepublications.com/


http://oss.sagepub.com/subscriptions

http://www.sagepub.com/journalsReprints.nav

http://www.sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav






OSS


30590 33210.1177/0170840611430590ReedOrganization Studies

Article

Masters of the Universe:Power andElites in OrganizationStudies

Michael I. ReedCardif University, UK

Organization Studies33(2) 203–221

© Te !utor(s) 2012"e#rints and

#er$ission%sage#u&'o'u*+ournas-er$iss

ions'nav .O/%10'11*01001130450

666'egosnet'org*os

Abstract7ite anaysis as re8e$erged as a entra te$e in onte$#orary organization

studies' Tis #a#er &uids on reent ontri&utions to tis revitaized 9ed &y deveo#ing

a distintive teoretia a##roa and su&stantive agenda :or te study o: #o6er

reations and eite ruing in organization studies' ;y dra6ing on a reaist* $ateriaist

ontoogy and a neo8<e&erian anaytia :ra$e6or, te #a#er identi9es te idea o:

=o$$and situations> as te ey one#t :or identi:ying anging $eanis$s and:or$s o: eite do$ination and ontro in onte$#orary soio8#oitia orders' Tree

ase istories are su&se?uenty disussed in order to #rovide iustrative e@a$#es o:

te 6ay in 6i tis anaytia :ra$e6or an enane our understanding o: te

o$#e@ inter#ay &et6een =institutiona> and =interstitia> #o6er as it sa#es te

e$ergene o: y&rid governane regi$es troug 6i onte$#orary regi$es o:

eite do$ination and rue &eo$e organized'

e!words

o$$and situations, do$ination, eites, y&rids,#o6er, reais$

Introduction

This paper sets out a distinti!e theoretia" approah and su#stanti!e agenda $or the stud% o$

po&er re"ations and e"ite ru"ing in organization studies. 't dra&s on a rea"ist onto"og% (Reed)

2009* and a neo+,e#erian ana"%tia" $ra-e&or (ann) 2006* to in$or- the de!e"op-ent o$ its

ore ana"%tia" oneptua"izations and their dep"o%-ent in three i""ustrati!e ase histories o$

hanging $or-s o$ e"ite po&er and ontro" ("% ei-) 1991 Oreses on&a%) 2010So"dato! orogan)

2010*. 'n the ourse o$ de!e"oping this ana"%sis) the paper initia""% pro!ides a s%-patheti ritiue

o$ the entra" argu-ents out"ined in a"d and ouns#ur%s (2010* reent re+artiu"ation o$ a neo+

institutiona"ist approah to :e"ites) e;pertise and o--and posts. The paper a"so responds to the








"atters :a"" to ar-s to re+engage organizationa" studies &ith :$unda-enta" uestions a#out e"ites

and the organizationa" in$rastruture that the% operate and use to &ie"d in$"uene (a"d

ouns#ur%) 2010) p. 964*. ut it does so in a &a% that atte-pts to go #e%ond their) essentia""% pro+

gra--ati) :$ie"d perspeti!e on o--and posts #% de!e"oping a -ore e"a#orate :oneptua"

"orres#onding author:

-ro:essor Aiae /' "eed, Cardif ;usiness Soo, Cardif University, Cou$ .rive,

Cardif CB10 37U, UK' 7$ai% reed$ardif'a'u







20 OrganizationStudies 33(2)

arhiteture in &hih the idea o$ :o--and situations #eo-es the e% onept $or identi$%ing

the :generati!e -ehanis-s shaping and reshaping hanging $or-s o$ e"ite po&er and ontro".

'n this &a%) the paper pro!ides an integrated set o$ ana"%tia" too"s #% &hih &e an -ore

deep"% penetrate the strutura" d%na-is o$ e"ite do-ination and ru"e. s a"d and ouns#ur%

"ear"% reognize) organization studies desperate"% needs to de!e"op :-ore sophistiated treat+-ents o$ po&er in its !arious guises (a"d ouns#ur%) 2010) p. 983*. onseuent"%) this

paper &i"" out"ine a set o$ ore e;p"anator% onepts through &hih the o-p"e; interp"a%

#et&een

:po&er as do-ination and :po&er as net&or an #e -ore $u""% understood and its i-p"iations

$or ana"%sing h%#ridized $or-s o$ e"ite ru"e -ore "ear"% appreiated. % -apping out the o-+

p"e; :zones o$ -anoeu!re ("ar) 2000* #et&een institutiona"ized po&er hierarhies (:po&er as

do-ination* and interstitia" po&er -atries (:po&er as net&or*) organization studies &i"" #e

#etter euipped to e;p"ain the d%na-is o$ e"ite ru"e and the h%#rid go!ernane regi-es that the%

generate.

$izards of Oz

<or a"d and ouns#ur% (2010) p. 970*) :the !er% notion o$ =e"ite> see-s to #e in $"u;. ost o$

this is due) the% ontend to the $at that :the do-inant diretions o$ inte""etua" hange in -uh o$

organizationa" soio"og% ha!e #een to downplay the role of elites and hierarchical power in

analysis) and turn a&a% $ro- the pressing po"i% hoies and pro#"e-s $aing onte-porar%

soiet% (2010) p. 968) e-phasis added*. ?et) e% aspets o$ &hat the% propose to orret this

"auna in organization studies see-s to rein$ore) rather than re!erse) this under"%ing trend

to&ards an inte""etua" $asination &ith horizonta") u"tura""% #ased $or-s o$ po&er and

ontro") &ith its onseuent neg"et o$ hierarhia" $or-s o$ po&er @ that is) &ith strutures o$

do-ination @ and their ruia" i-portane $or understanding) -uh "ess e;p"aining) e"ite

$or-ation) reprodution and e"a#oration.

The entra" onept that a"d and ouns#ur% ad!ane to re!erse this ontinuing neg"et o$

hier+ arhia" po&er and e"ite ontro" in -uh o$ onte-porar% organizationa" theorizing and

ana"%sis is that o$ :o--and posts and its re+artiu"ation &ithin a neo+institutiona"ist :$ie"d

approah. The "atter) the% ontend) an #e oneptua""% re!i!i$ied and re$or-u"ated in a &a% that

re+a&aens our interest) as organizationa" ana"%sts and as itizens)

AinB traditiona" entres o$ soieta" po&er (e.g. !aried go!ern-enta" agenies) the -i"itar% and other $or-a"

#odies o$ go!ernane suh as CTO) Dnited Cations) ,or"d an et.)* that regu"ate) o!ersee) and ai- to

-aintain soia" order in soiet% and eono-%) #oth at regiona") nation+state and inter+state "e!e"s. (a"d

ouns#ur%) 2010) p. 964*

<ro- an organizationa" ana"%sis perspeti!e) the% ontinue) this &i"" de-and a sustained

ana"%tia" and su#stanti!e $ous on the o-p"e; :asteroid #e"t o$ #ureaurati positions and

personne" that ha!e !ar%ing degrees and $or-s o$ institutiona" Eurisdition o!er ritia" po"i%+

-aing do-ains and &hih p"a% a strategi ro"e in produing and reproduing po&er entres o$

e"ite e;pertise and ontro".

?et) throughout a"d and ouns#ur%s progra--ati proEet $or re!i!ing e"ite ana"%sis &ithinorganization studies) there re-ains a high"% a-#i!a"ent) i$ not ontraditor%) attitude to u"tura""%

#ased and horizonta""% $oused neo+<ouau"dian approahes in &hih :representations) disourses

and narrati!es -o!e to entre stage AandB stratification, power and domination become secondary



considerations’ (a"d ouns#ur%) p. 969) e-phasis added*.



Reed

204

The $ie"d approah to o--and posts) a"d and ouns#ur% ontend) an $ai"itate a #roader

oneption o$ e"ite po&er and ontro" that goes #e%ond the orthodo; ana"%sis o$ e"ite

reruit-ent) soia"ization and reprodution in a nu-#er o$ respets. <irst) it retains a strong

interest in state ators that ha!e su#stantia" po"i%+-aing po&er and autono-%. Seond) it o$$ers

a -ore $"e;i#"e) $"uid and -u"tidi-ensiona" approah to e"ite po&er that #etter euips us)

theoretia""% and -ethodo+ "ogia""%) to understand the -ore o-p"e; $or-s o$ e;pert po&er and

ontro" on &hih onte-po+ rar% $or-s o$ go!ernane @ suh as po"%arhi authorit% strutures

and s%ste-s ("egg) ourpasson

Fhi""ips) 2006* @ are inreasing"% dependent. Third) it sensitizes us) as researhers and itizens)

to -ore :o!ert e$$orts to -o#i"ize and oordinate soia" -o!e-ents that an &or their &a%

into organizations and soieties that ha""enge e;tant authorit% strutures) and ena#"e the

e-ergene o$ ne& and inno!ati!e po"itia" regi-es) se"eti!e"% o-#ining di$$erent strutures

and -eha+ nis-s o$ e"ite ru"e in h%#rid $or-s (ourpasson "egg) 2006 rouh) 2005*.

<ina""%) #% oneptua"izing :o--and post $ie"ds as) si-u"taneous"%) "e!e"s o$ ana"%sis andorganizationa" units) the neo+institutiona" approah that a"d and ouns#ur% ad!oate an

o-#ine an ana"%tia" interest in the u"tura"/nor-ati!e/ogniti!e aspets o$ e"ite po&er and its

-ateria"/ideo"ogia"/ po"itia" aspets.

%ollow the &ellow 'ric( Road

a"d and ouns#ur%s :a"" to ar-s has -uh to o--end it in that it rea$$ir-s the entra"it% o$

e"ite ana"%sis to an understanding and e;p"anation o$ -aEor shi$ts in -aro+"e!e" po&er

strutures and their o-p"e; i-pat on and interation &ith -iro+"e!e" ontro" d%na-is as the%

&or their &a% through hanges to organizationa" po"i% and pratie. ut) as the% open"% ad-it)

their ana"%sis is unsatis$ator%) or at "east un$inished) in a nu-#er o$ respets and -uh -ore

needs to #e done #% &a% o$ theor% #ui"ding #e$ore the stud% o$ e"ite po&er and ontro" returns to

its :entre+stage ro"e in organization studies. Their :$it$u" progra--ati atte-pt to $"esh out

an institutiona" approahGat #est sethes a researh diretion AandB &e ha!e not $u""% &ored+

out a oneptua" arhiteture (a"d ouns#ur%) 2010) p. 983*.

Ce!erthe"ess) their ana"%sis does esta#"ish a :oneptua" #ase a-p in a nu-#er o$ respets.

<irst and $ore-ost) it rein$ores the need to o-#ine a position+#ased approah and an ation+

#ased approah in the stud% o$ organizationa" e"ites (Reed) in press* that is) it proper"% re-inds

us that the stud% o$ e"ite po&er and ontro" -ust dra& on an integrated ontological and

analytical framework that is oneptua""% euipped to understand and e;p"ain the o-p"e;

interation #et&een institutiona"ized po&er strutures and e-ergent po&er net&ors as it shapes

and reshapes organizationa" po"i% and pratie. Seond) a"d and ouns#ur%s ana"%sis rea$$ir-s

the ana"%tia" and su#stanti!e signi$iane o$ :entres o$ po&er to the understanding and

e;p"anation o$ e"ite ru"e and ontro". 'n this respet) their ana"%sis theoretia""% prioritizes @ that

is) in ter-s o$ de!e"op+ ing oneptua" $ra-e&ors and ana"%tia" too"s that facilitate the

development of explanatory theory @ the hierarhia""% strati$ied and s%ste-ia""% reprodued

po&er strutures on and through &hih ru"ing e"ite groups esta#"ish and e;erise their do-ination

and ontro". Third) their ana"%sis a"so rea$$ir-s the inherently dynamic nature o$ the do-ination

strutures that generate) sustain and trans$or- di$$erent $or-s o$ e"ite ru"ing and the

organizationa" regi-es through &hih the "atter are e"a#orated) -o#i"ized and hanged. Thus)

their reognition o$ the re+e-ergene o$ ne&) h%#ridized

:po"%arhi go!ernane regi-es and the re"ati!e"% no!e" e"ite ru"ing strategies through &hih



the% ha!e #een de!e"oped (o$ &hih) -ore "ater* re-inds us that inno!ations in po"itia" regi-es

and the do-ination strutures that support the- ha!e a "ong+ter- ontinuit% &ith :&hat has gone

#e$ore as &e"" as presaging :ne& #eginnings. <ina""%) a"d and ouns#ur%s ana"%sis

i""ustrates the




dangers o$ osi""ating) onto"ogia""% and ana"%tia""%) #et&een a oneption o$ e"ites as :uni$ied

rationa" ators and as :te-porar% &oring a""ianes. The $or-er presu-es a "e!e" o$ strategi

$oresight and a"u"ated ontinuit% in e"ite #eha!iour that si-p"% annot #e supported #% the his+

toria" reord or #% onte-porar% aounts o$ e"ite do-ination and ru"e. 'n diret ontrast) the

"atter s&ings to the opposite e;tre-e o$ presu-ing that e"ite ru"ing strategies and strutures are soirredee-a#"% onte;tua""% ontingent and u"tura""% re"ati!e that the% are onstitutiona""% inapa+

#"e o$ taing on an%thing -ore than a -ini-a" degree o$ organizationa" oherene and ontinuit%.

'nstead o$ this :o#sons hoie #et&een neo+rationa"is- and post-odernist hi) a"d and

ouns#ur% o$$er the #eginnings o$ an ana"%sis that aords e"ites su$$iient ideo"ogia" ohesion)

po"itia" si"" and organizationa" apait% so as to onstitute ru"ing -inorit% groups e-#edded

in strutures o$ do-ination that gi!e the- the potentia" orporate po&er to engage in strategies

through &hih their -ateria" and soia" interests -ight #e s%ste-atia""% pursued.

H"ites -a% not #e uite :-asters o$ the uni!erse #ut neither are the% :&izards o$ Oz

ner!ous"% hiding #ehind the $"i-siest o$ proteti!e urtains that an #e pu""ed apart #% those #ra!e

and deter+ -ined enough to $ae the &rath o$ supposed"% po&er$u" indi!idua"s and groups &hoan #e un-ased as ti-id deei!ers i$ on"% :&e are prepared to ha""enge their authorit%. 'ndeed)

the $or-er -etaphor -a% o-e "oser to enapsu"ating and on!e%ing the rea"ities o$ e"ite

do-ination and ontro". This is so to the e;tent that it onte;tua"izes e"ite po&er strugg"es and

re"ationships &ithin a series o$ o-p"e; interations and situations in &hih the te-porar%

reso"ution o$ e"ite po&er on$"its and ontro" strugg"es are inde"i#"% shaped) #ut ne!er

deter-ined) #% pri!i"eged aess to and si""ed dep"o%-ent o$ the sare -ateria" and s%-#o"i

resoures -ade a!ai"a#"e #% hierarhia""% strati$ied po&er strutures and -ehanis-s that

under"ie interationa" orders (a%der) 1997) 2005*. Iie&ed through this sort o$ ana"%tia" "ens) the

de!e"op-ent o$ ne& $or-s o$ organizationa" go!ernane an #e seen as the outo-e o$ a high"%

o-p"e; interp"a% #et&een the inipient dea% o$ institutiona"ized po&er hierarhies @ and theesta#"ished $or-s o$ e"ite ru"e &hih the% pre!ious"% sustained @ and e-erging interstitia" po&er

net&ors that generate the ne&

:o--and situations that o-e to ha""enge the po"itia" status uo.

)heorizing Elites * +"oreAssu,#tions-

Ji!en the ana"%tia" #ridgehead and progra--ati agenda that a"d and ouns#ur% ha!e #ui"t

and onstruted) the pro#"e- no& #eo-es one o$ taing this $or&ard theoretia""% in a &a% that

inor+ porates the ad!antages o$ their neo+institutiona"ist approah &ithout o-pro-ising its

onto"ogia" and ana"%tia" o--it-ent to de!e"oping e;p"anator% -ode"s o$ e"ite ru"ing that p"ae

:the d%na-+ is o$ do-ination at their oneptua" ore.

ui"ding upon a"d and ouns#ur%s ana"%sis) the theorization o$ e"ite ru"ing that is su#se+

uent"% ad!aned in this paper is #ased on a nu-#er o$ interre"ated presuppositions. The initia"

pre-ise $or this theorization is the #e"ie$ that the in!estigation and ana"%sis o$ e"ites shou"d #e

$oused on the re"ations and interations #et&een orporate agents &ho ha!e the :strutura" p"ae

and :organizationa" po&er (rher) 2003* to shape the go!erning strutures and regi-es through

&hih the e!er%da% "i!es o$ itizens are ordered and -anaged ("egg et a".) 2006) p. 343*. This

-eans that the overriding explanatory priority for the study of organizational elites must be the

complex interplay between established structures of domination, the elite ruling strategies and

relations that emerge from creative engagement with the latter, and the modes of resistance which

they, in turn, engender on the part of corporate agents formally excluded from the process and

practice of elite rule.



Reed

20

One this initia" pre-ise is aepted) then a nu-#er o$ in$erenes neessari"% $o""o& in its

&ae. <irst) that the :radia" de+entring o$ e"ite theorizing and in!estigation e!ident in

theoretia" approahes &hih ha!e #een high"% in$"uentia" in organization studies in reent %ears

(a""on atour) 1981 "egg) 1989 ardt Cegri) 2000 a&) 1994 a& assard)

1999 Knights)

2009 i""er Rose) 2008 unro) 2009* has gone too $ar it has &eaened the ana"%tia"

apait% o$ organizationa" researhers to aount $or the po&er o$ :the entre to do-inate)

ontro" and -an+ age "o&er+"e!e" orporate agents e$$eti!e"% e;"uded $ro- ati!e partiipation

in the strategi po"i%+$or-u"ating proess. Thus) the reent $asination) i$ not o#session) &ith

:po&er &ithout a entre) or rather :the -u"tip"e entres o$ a"u"ation and authorit% that tra!erse

and "in up per+ sona") soia" and eono-i "i$e (i""er Rose) 2008) p. 20*) has "ed to a

orresponding neg"et o$ the indispensa#"e ana"%tia" too"s reuired to identi$% and in!estigate the

d%na-i points o$ inter+ setion #et&een suh ontingent and te-porar% :horizonta" oa"itions or

a""ianes and the -uh -ore enduring) resi"ient and o#durate :!ertia" do-ination strutures&ithin &hih the% are e-#edded. Seond) that the :re+entring o$ e"ite in!estigation and ana"%sis

in organization studies an on"% #e ahie!ed #% dra&ing e;tensi!e"% on phi"osophia" and

theoretia" resoures that are euipped to dea" &ith the hierarhia""% strati$ied nature o$

organizationa" po&er as it #eo-es so"idi$ied into institutiona"ized re"ations o$ do-ination and

su#ordination that persist o!er ti-e and p"ae #ut &hih a"so ontain the generati!e -ehanis-s

through &hih their inipient dea% and e!entua" degeneration &i"" #e rea"ized (ues) 2005*.

<ina""%) that this rediso!er% o$ the o-p"e; interp"a% #et&een !ertia" and horizonta" $or-s o$

po&er re"ations pro!ides the ana"%tia" e% to understanding the d%na-i interre"ationships

#et&een esta#"ished strutures o$ do-inan% and e-ergent e"ite strategies as the% shape and

reshape the h%#ridized $or-s o$ organizationa" po&er and ontro" inreasing"% pre!a"ent inad!aned apita"ist po"itia" eono-ies and soieties (Reed)

2010a) 2010 #*.

Taen as a o-p"ete paage) the presuppositions out"ined a#o!e "ear"% indiate that :state

po&er -ust return theoretia""% entre+stage to the in!estigation o$ the hanging d%na-is and

$or-s o$ e"ite ru"ing &ithin a proper appreiation o$ the under"%ing strains and stresses that esta#+

"ished strutures o$ do-inan% ha!e #een e;periening in a"" ad!aned apita"ist po"itia" eono+

-ies and soieties sine the 1980s. This is not to a"" $or the return to theorizations o$ state po&er

that $ai" to reognize the su#stantia" ha""enges that e-erging $or-s o$ transnationa" @ and indeed)

su#nationa" @ po&er present to nation+state "e!e" go!ernane regi-es (Lean) 1999 Ste&art) 2001

Thri$t) 2005*. 'ndeed) it is "ear"% e!ident @ $or e;a-p"e) in areas suh as the regu"ation o$ pro$es+siona" ser!ies and oupations (<au"on#ridge uzio) 2008 Standing) 2010* @ that there has

#een an under"%ing d%na-i o$ "ong+ter- institutiona" hange &ithin &hih g"o#a"ized transna+

tiona" $ir-s and the onentrations o$ e"ite po&er that the% reprodue and ser!ie ha!e ha""enged

the organizationa" apait% and ideo"ogia" "egiti-a% o$ the nation state and its regu"ati!e agen+

ies to go!ern e-erging entres o$ e;pert authorit%. s a resu"t) the go!ernane o$ e;pert ser!ies

and the po&er re"ations that it generates and re$"ets ha!e #eo-e -ore o-p"e;) -u"ti+"a%ered

and ontested as sedi-ented $or-s o$ state+#ased regu"ation and e-erging $or-s o$ supranationa"

$ir-+#ased regu"ation !ie $or ontro" &ithin and do-inane o!er e;pert Eurisditiona" do-ains.

ut i$) as augaard and "egg (2009) p. 22* reent"% suggest) :state po&er is an institutiona""%

-ediated ondensation o$ the hanging #a"ane o$ $ores) then this ho"ds true $or a"" other $or-so$ po&er re"ations and the strutures o$ do-inan% through &hih the% are generated) interpo"ated

and trans+ -itted. 'n this respet) &e need to #e a&are that :institutiona""% -ediated ondensations

Ao$ po&erB an tae a range o$ organizationa" $or-s that annot #e e;p"ained in iso"ation $ro- the



positiona" po&er re"ations @ that is) to use ,e#ers (1978* ter-) the :strutures o$ do-inan% @

&ithin &hih




the% are "oated and $ro- &hih e"ite groups -o#i"ize sare authoritati!e and a""oati!e

(Jiddens)

1979* resoures in pursuit o$ their strategi -o#i"it% proEets as the% engage in ontro" strugg"es

&ith other e"ite and non+e"ite groups. ut state po&er taes on a partiu"ar signi$iane $or

e;p"ain+ ing hanging $or-s o$ e"ite ru"e and the :ontested terrain on &hih it is una!oida#"%-o#i"ized and) ho&e!er i-per$et"%) rea"ized. 't pro!ides the o!erarhing strutures o$

do-inan% and en+ tres o$ strategi ontro" &ithin &hih inter+e"ite) intra+e"ite and ontra+e"ite

strugg"es are $ought out at di$$erent "e!e"s o$ soio+po"itia" organization.

% generating and sustaining the ideo"ogia" "egiti-a% and operationa" apa#i"it% o$ the o!er+

arhing institutiona" arhiteture through &hih state po&er #eo-es :ondensed into organiza+

tiona" $or-s a!ai"a#"e to e"ite orporate agents engaged in ontro" strugg"es o!er aess to and

-o#i"ization o$ sare (-ateria" and s%-#o"i* resoures) the ‘bureaucratic-democratic state’

remains the dominant condensation of concentrated and centralized ‘infra-structural power’

available in advanced capitalist political economies and societies (Shroeder) 2006*. 't re-ains

the do-inant soure and -ode o$ po"itia" po&er as entra"ized) territoria" regu"ation o$ soia""i$e. s ann (2006) pp. 352@3* insistsM

On"% the state has this entra"ized+territoria" spatia" $or- AandB a -onopo"% o$ institutiona"ized !io"ene.

'n$rastrutura" po&er is the essene o$ the routinized po&ers o$ states) &hi"e the e;erise o$ despoti

po&er is a sign o$ a &eaer state. The part o$ soia" "i$e &hih is intense"%) routine"% regu"ated and o+

ordinated in a entra"ized and territoria" $ashion onerns net&ors o$ po"itia" po&er. 'n these senses

po"itia" is the !er% opposite o$ -i"itar% po&er.

Ji!en the theoretia" presuppositions out"ined a#o!e) the rest o$ this paper dra&s on a nu-#er

o$ ana"%tia" resoures to onstrut an integrated theoretia" $ra-e&or $or ana"%sing hanging$or-s o$ e"ite ru"e and its su#seuent app"iation in the interpretation o$ three ase histories on the

e-ergene o$ ne& tehnorati and sienti$i e"ites that ha""enge the po&er and ontro" o$ esta#+

"ished ad-inistrati!e e"ites. 'n the ne;t setion o$ the paper a neo+,e#erian oneption and t%po"+

og% o$ e"ites is adu-#rated and is $o""o&ed #% a #rie$ e;ursion into a rea"ist/-ateria"ist historia"

soio"og% o$ e"ite ru"e as re$"eted in the &or o$ ann (1986) 1993) 2006*. The penu"ti-ate se+

tion o$ the paper pro!ides an o!er!ie& o$ three ase histories that i""ustrate the e;p"anator% poten+

tia" o$ the integrated theoretia" $ra-e&or pre!ious"% de!e"oped. on"uding setion

su--arizes the &ider i-p"iations o$ the papers ore argu-ents $or the stud% o$ organizationa"

e"ites.

)heorizing Elites +e!"once#ts-

The -aEor ana"%tia" and -ethodo"ogia" ontro!ers% shaping the de!e"op-ent o$ e"ite theor% in

reent %ears has #een the re"ati!e oneptua" oherene and e;p"anator% -erits o$ a strutura" or

positiona" theorization o$ e"ites as opposed to a #eha!ioura" or strategi theorization. O!er 30

%ears ago) Fah" and ,in"er (1974* argued strong"% in $a!our o$ an :ation+#ased theorization o$

e"ites o!er a :strutura""%+#ased theorization the $or-er) the% ontended) $ai"itated an ana"%tia"

$ous on the d%na-is o$ e"ite $or-ation and -o#i"ization aross institutiona" $ie"ds that ou"d not

#e ao--odated &ithin the "atter #eause o$ its o#session &ith re"ati!e"% $i;ed and statihierarhi+ a" authorit% strutures. <or the-) the $ous o$ e;p"anator% interest -ust #e on the

:deision+taing arenas in &hih e"ite po&er strugg"es o!er :authoritati!e ontro" @ that is) the

organizationa" apait% to assign sare -ateria" resoures to strategi po"i% initiati!es @ are



$ought out) rather than persisting &ith a $i;ation on the positiona" strutures through &hih

:a""oati!e ontro" @ that is) the operationa" -anage-ent o$ suh sare resoures @ is routine"%

seured. ,ho e"ites are) ho&



Reed

205

the% institutiona""% reprodue the-se"!es) and the positiona" strutures through &hih this is

-ade possi#"e are) $or Fah" and ,in"er (1974*) -uh "ess interesting than &hat e"ites do and

ho& their o""eti!e ation i-pats on organizationa" outo-es.

?et) 30 %ears or so "ater) researhers suh as ,hit"e% (2003*) "egg et a". (2006*) Sott (2008*

and no& a"d and ouns#ur% (2010* are insisting that onte-porar% e"ite theor% -ust ana"%tia""%

di$$erentiate #et&een organized -inorities oup%ing positions o$ o--and and ontro" "oated

at the higher "e!e"s o$ do-ination strutures $ro- &hih the% an e;erise strategi authoritati!e

and a""oati!e ontro" and those organized -inorities that are $or-a""% and su#stanti!e"% e;"uded

$ro- e$$eti!e partiipation &ithin suh institutiona"ized po&er re"ations. 'n this &a%)

onte-porar% e"ite theorists and researhers a""ing $or an ana"%tia" re$ousing and su#stanti!e

reorientation around strutura""% or positiona"+#ased theorizations o$ organizationa" e"ites are

suggesting that "egiti-ate -inorit% ru"e through oupan% o$ $or-a" :o--and posts &ithin

do-ination stru+ tures and the organizationa" apait% that it generates to ontro" strategi po"i%

initiati!es -ust re-ain at the entre o$ e"ite ana"%sis.'$ the $ous o$ e"ite ana"%sis shi$ts e;"usi!e"% to&ards a $ie"d+"e!e" or u"tura""% #ased

approah @ in &hih the interstitia" po&er net&ors that e-erge $ro- the o-p"e; -osai o$

horizonta" inter+ ations and interre"ations #et&een oa"itions or a""ianes o$ e;pert groups

#eo-e the o!erriding e;p"anator% priorit% @ then the under"%ing strutura" -ehanis-s that

generate and sustain the &ider set o$ !ertia""% strati$ied e"ite po&er re"ations &ithin &hih the

"atter are e-#edded &i"" #e "ost $ro- ana"%tia" !ie& and su#stanti!e onern. 't is a"" !er% &e""

to guard against the tenden% to&ards :tota"izing hege-on% that so-e o--entators (Sa!age

,i""ia-s) 2008) pp. 15@17* assoiate &ith -ore strutura""% #ased approahes to e"ite researh

and ana"%sis. ut this -a% entai" a $unda-enta" underesti-ation) i$ not s%ste-i a!oidane) o$ the

e;p"anator% signi$iane o$ hierarhia""% strati$ied po&er strutures and the strategi ro"e thatru"ing -inorities p"a% in repro+ duing the-. 'ndeed) &ithin this $ie"d or u"tura""% #ased approah

to e"ite ana"%sis there is an under"%ing onto"ogia" and ana"%tia" presu-ption in $a!our o$

‘domain-specific’ horizontal net- works o$ e"ite in$"uene and ontro" that is theoretia""%

inapa#"e o$ engaging &ith ‘domain span- ning’ domination structures and their e% ro"e in

generating and sustaining di$$erent $or-s o$ e"ite ru"e aross a &ide range o$ $ie"d+"e!e" do-ains.

This is #eause the &ho"e $ous o$ attention is shi$ted deisi!e"% a&a% $ro- the "atter in $a!our o$

the inherent"% $"uid and ontested $ie"d do-ains in &hih !arious $or-s o$ :apita" @ s%-#o"i)

disursi!e) ideo"ogia" and po"itia" @ are -ade a!ai"a#"e to e;pert e"ites in their strugg"es to

-onopo"ize ontro" o!er the high"% o-p"e; :ru"es o$ the ga-e that shape suh strugg"es and

their outo-es (ourdieu) 1996 <ouau"t) 2003 Jo"sorhi) ouns#ur% Ra-irez) 2009 o)2009*. Lo-ination re"ations and their strategi ro"e in generat+ ing and reproduing

institutiona"ized $or-s o$ e"ite po&er and ontro" annot #e understood e;"u+ si!e"%) or e!en

pri-ari"%) as u"tura" pheno-ena @ that is) as :struturing u"tura" praties that soia""% onstrut

and disursi!e"% represent the :pri!i"eged su#Eeti!ities and #iographies o$ e"ite groups suh as

in!est-ent #aners (o) 2009) pp. 295@324*. Rather) the $or-er need to #e theo+ rized as

under"%ing soio+-ateria" re"ations and onditions that are ideo"ogia""% "egiti-ated and

operationa""% sustained through !arious $or-s o$ organized e"ite ru"e and the o""eti!e po"itia"

interests that the% -o#i"ize and protet.

ui"ding on o"der and -ore reent &or in e"ite theor% (Ler#er) Sh&artz agrass) 1990

Lo-ho$$) 1967) 1971 i""s) 1956 Rothop$) 2008 Sott) 1996) 2001) 2008 Dsee-) 1984*) it is possi#"e to de!e"op a neo+,e#erian theorization o$ e"ite po&er and ontro" that a!oids the :tota "+

izing tendenies o$ so-e strutura""% #ased approahes &hi"e proper"% aessing the ine;tria#"e

ana"%tia" and su#stanti!e "in #et&een do-ination and e"ite ru"e. The e;p"anator% $ous $or the



theoretia" de!e"op-ent o$ this neo+,e#erian approah -ust #e on the underlying stratification




mechanisms as the key ‘generative mechanisms’ through &hih :po&er re"ations are organized

into strutures o$ do-ination (Sott) 1996) p. 189* and the strategi ro"e that e"ites p"a% in

generating) reproduing and trans$or-ing the go!ernane regi-es that e-erge $ro- these

do-ination stru+ tures. s Sott (1996) pp. 191@2) e-phasis added* ontendsM

The% Astrati$iation -ehanis-sB are o-p"e; strutures that are haraterized #% $issures) $au"ts) $o"ds

and intrusions) and that in!o"!e o-p"e; -eta-orphi proesses. Strata do not si-p"% "ie on top o$ one

another in neat "a%ers "ie a Ea- sand&ih. The% are o-pressed and distorted into o-p"e; shapes that

an #e understood on"% through painstaing researh and &ith an ana"%tia" i-agination that is a#"e to

reonstrut the proesses through &hih the% ha!e #een $or-edGSoia" strata re$"et the o-p"e;

proesses through &hih the under"%ing po&er situations that peop"e oup% operate) in #oth rein$oring

and ontraditor% &a%s) to generate their "i$e hanes and "i$e st%"esG Each [power situation is to be

understood as an aspect of the distribution of power within a society, and as arising from the structuring

of power into relations of domination.

e $urther suggests that o$ the three -ain idea" t%pes o$ :po&er situations &hih peop"e oup%

@

:"ass situations) :status situations and :o--and situations @ :o--and situations are the

"east ana"%tia""% de!e"oped in that the% reuire a theoretia""% and -ethodo"ogia""%

sophistiated soi+ o"ogia" ana"%sis o$ :po"itia" o--and and its i-p"iations $or strata

$or-ation (Sott) 1996) p.

193*. s generi strutura" -ehanis-s $or organizing po&er re"ations into strutures o$ do-ina+

tion) :o--and situations are o-p"e; institutiona" $or-ations onsisting o$ hierarhia""% strati+

$ied on$igurations o$ interorganizationa" and intraorganizationa" positions and re"ations that are

shaped and reshaped pri-ari"%) #ut not e;"usi!e"%) through the o$$ensi!e and de$ensi!e po"itia"

o--and strategies dep"o%ed #% e"ite groups "oated at di$$erent "e!e"s o$ suh on$igurations. 'n

their strugg"e $or -onopo"% aess to the sare eono-i) po"itia") soia" and u"tura" resoures

that suh o--and situations -ae a!ai"a#"e @ and the -ared ad!antages that suh -onopo"%

aess gi!es to so-e e"ite groups o!er others @ e"ite groups stri!e to ontro" the strati$iation

-ehanis-s through &hih the "atter are generated) reprodued and trans$or-ed. Thus) the

$or-a+ tion) operation) reprodution and trans$or-ation o$ the strati$iation -ehanis-s through

&hih po&er re"ations #eo-e organized into do-ination strutures ha!e to #e ana"%sed as the

ontested institutiona" outo-es o$ o-p"e; po"itia" strugg"es &ithin and #et&een ru"ing

-inorities as the% stri!e to gain "ong+ter- ad!antage o!er other e"ite groups o""eti!e"% engaged

in the uest to on+ tro" the traEetor% o$ soia" hange.

ontra Fah" and ,in"er (1974*) &e need an historia" soio"og% o$ organizationa" e"ites that

&i"" oneptua""% and -ethodo"ogia""% integrate the stud% o$ :positiona" e"ites &ith :ation

e"ites to pro!ide the ana"%tia" and su#stanti!e #asis $or the ana"%sis o$ do-ination strutures as

:o-+ p"e; $or-ations that stand in hierarhia" re"ation &ith eah other) #ut are rare"% $or-ed

into si-p"e hierarhies. The% are -u"tidi-ensiona" soia" strutures that interset and o!er"ap

&ith one another and that -a% #e $rag-ented into distint $ations (Sott) 1996) p. 194*.

onsidered in this &a%) the do-ination strutures through &hih e"ites generate) sustain and

ontest organized po&er re"ations are inherent"% d%na-i institutiona" $or-ations) ine!ita#"%

su#Eet to ross+utting stresses and tensions &hih ensure that their "ong+ter- resi"iene and

ontinuit% are a"&a%s e;posed to pres+ sures and ha""enges o$ !ar%ing degrees o$ porosit% and

intensit%. Suh a oneptua"ization o$ e"ites a"so theoretia""% o-#ines an interest in &hat Sott(2008* a""s the :storage and ho"ding o$ po&er &ith the :e;erise and -o#i"ization o$ po&er

inso$ar as it necessarily links the organiza+ tion o$ po&er re"ations into do-ination strutures)

&ith the o--and strategies -o#i"ized #% on+ tending e"ite groups as the% strugg"e to retain



-onopo"% aess to and ontro" o!er the resoure distri#utions that suh strutures

institutiona"ize.



Reed 211

)able *. Bour /dea Ty#e 7ites

Ty#e Strategy .o$ains

Coerive eites Aono#oy ontro over

$eans*$eanis$s o: orretion

Aiitary, seurity, a6

en:ore$ent!oative eites Aono#oy ontro over$eans*$eanis$s

Cor#orate &usiness, 9nane,industry,

7@#ert eites Aono#oy ontro over$eans*$eanis$s

-ro:essiona 9eds, $edia,aade$ia,

!utoritativeeites

Aono#oy ontro over$eans*$eanis$s

Centra and oa govern$ent,re#re8

Sotts (1996* ana"%sis "eads hi- to suggest that &e need -ore organizationa""% $ine+grained

institutiona" -aps o$ the high"% di!erse and o-p"e; ad-inistrati!e s%ste-s through &hih

!arious $or-s o$ :o--and situation are sustained. One &a% in &hih this $or- o$ ana"%sis-ight #e pro+ gressed is #% onstruting a -ore ana"%tia""% de!e"oped t%po"og% o$ e"ite groups

and the strati$ia+ tion -ehanis-s that the% re"% on to generate and sustain -onopo"% ontro"

o!er sare resoures !ita" to their suess in the strugg"e $or po"itia" po&er and the o--and

situations that it gener+ ates. 'n turn) this t%po"og% an #e dep"o%ed in pursuit o$ an historia"

soio"og% o$ organizationa" e"ites as e;e-p"i$ied in the &or o$ ann (1986) 1993) 2006) 2011*.

Ta#"e 1 pro!ides a -odi$ied !ersion o$ Sotts (2008* origina" t%po"og% o$ e"ites.

The t%po"og% identi$ies $our t%pes o$ e"ite groups and the -onopo"% strategies &hih the% pur+

sue @ &ithin and aross institutiona" do-ains @ in order to -aintain their positiona" po&er &ithin

esta#"ished do-ination strutures and the po"itia" ad!antage &hih this gi!es the- &hen the% are

engaged in ontro" strugg"es &ith other e"ite and non+e"ite groups.:oeri!e e"ites pursue a strateg% o$ -onopo"% ontro" o!er the pri-ar% -eans and -eha+

nis-s o$ correction and punishment through &hih soio+po"itia" order is sustained in the $ae o$

an% o!ert or o!ert threats to its ontinued institutiona" e;istene and operationa" !ia#i"it%. Suh

e"ite groups tend to #e "oated) pri-ari"% #ut not e;"usi!e"%) in the -i"itar%/industria" o-p"e;)

and in the "a& en$ore-ent and seurit% apparatus through &hih a &ide range o$ threats to esta#+

"ished :"a& and order are ounterated and ontained.

:""oati!e e"ites pursue -onopo"% ontro" o!er the -eans and -ehanis-s through &hih

ontinuous apita" accumulation is sustained and an% o#sta"es to its strutura" de-ands and

tehni+ a" reuire-ents @ soia") po"itia") u"tura" or -ateria" @ are re-o!ed. Suh e"ite groups

tend to #e "oated pri-ari"% in the orporate #usiness setor and retain entra"ized strategi ontro"o!er the organizationa" proesses through &hih -aEor deision+-aing agendas are set and

-aintained.

:H;pert e"ites pursue -onopo"% ontro" o!er the -eans and -ehanis-s o$ acculturation

&ithin -odern soieties in &hih the "e!e" o$ organized o-p"e;it% in institutiona" en!iron-ents

and their supporting "ogis reuires organizationa" $or-s that an re$"e;i!e"% -onitor and -anage

the-se"!es @ as &e"" as the spei$i institutiona" setors $or &hih the% are $untiona""%

responsi#"e (Reed) in press*. This higher+"e!e" or :dou#"e re$"e;i!it% @ #oth $or spei$i

$untiona" do-ains or $ie"ds and $or their o&n operationa" !ia#i"it% @ reuires e;pert theoretia"

and tehnia" no&"edge o$ a !er% speia"ized and ad!aned ind that #eo-es rationa"ized into

!arious $or-s o$ :e;pert s%ste-s on &hih onte-porar% organizations #eo-e inreasing"%dependent. H;pert e"ites tend to predo-inate in pro$essiona" institutiona" net&ors and the

inreasing"% o-p"e; organizationa" $or-s through &hih the% are generated and -aintained.




:uthoritati!e e"ites pursue -onopo"% ontro" o!er the -eans and -ehanis-s o$ regulation

that are dep"o%ed to ensure that re"ati!e"% sta#"e and &e""+organized au-u"ation proesses an

#e sustained in the $ae o$ an% e-ergent de!e"op-ents that threaten to under-ine their

ideo"ogia" "egiti-a% and operationa" !ia#i"it%. The% tend to #e "oated in the upper reahes o$ a

&ide range o$ #ureaurati hierarhies through &hih !arious go!ern-enta" ati!ities areoordinated and ontro""ed. "so) the% p"a% a strategi $untiona" ro"e in $ra-ing and ser!iing the

:o--and situ+ ations through &hih po"itia" po&er #eo-es institutiona"ized in the $or- o$

go!ernane regi-es that are a#"e to -aintain the-se"!es in the $ae o$ threats and ha""enges to

their operationa" e$$e+ ti!eness and institutiona" "onge!it%.

"" $our t%pes o$ e"ites are in!o"!ed in the organization and ontro" o$ :o--and situations.

ut) as pre!ious"% disussed) the "atter are pri-ari"% deri!ed $ro- :di$$erentia"s o$ po&er in the

sphere o$ authorityGo--and situations are rooted in authorit%) #ut ahie!e their $u""est e;pres+

sion &ith the esta#"ish-ent o$ s%ste-s o$ #ureaurati ad-inistration (Sott) 1996) p. 41*. s

Sott (1996) pp. 40@7* argues) "usters o$ o!er"apping :o--and situations generate and sustain

:soia" #"os or :po&er entres o$ e"ite groupings that not on"% oup% e% positions &ithin thestrati$ied strutures o$ po&er re"ations that the $or-er institutiona"ize #ut are a"so "ined to one

another through de-ographi proesses o$ interation and iru"ation ("egg et a".) 2006*. ,ithin

these :soia" #"os/:po&er entres and the "usters o$ o!er"apping :o--and situations through

&hih the% are generated and sustained) :authoritati!e and :e;pert e"ites are "ie"% to p"a% the

entra" ro"es in struturing the re"ationa" net&ors through &hih the% are soia""% reprodued as

re"ati!e"% &e""+organized and strategia""% $oused orporate agents (rher) 2003*. s soia""%

o!er"apping and interonneted net&ors o$ orporate agents) :authoritati!e and :e;pert e"ites

&i"" ha!e the po"itia" and u"tura" apait% to de!e"op :-ora" !oa#u"aries o$ disourse (Sott)

1996) p. 44* through &hih the% &i"" see to "egiti-ate their do-inane and to organize the go!+

ernane regi-es through &hih the "atter is -aintained in the $ae o$ ha""enges to its authorit%. 'n partiu"ar) suh :-ora" !oa#u"aries o$ disourse &i"" #e dep"o%ed #% :authoritati!e and :e;pert

e"ites to ensure ontinued aess to e% entres o$ state deision+-aing po&er and go!ern-enta"

ontro") through &hih their "ai-s to oup% ad!antageous positions &ithin do-ination

strutures and the re&ards) #oth -ateria" and s%-#o"i) that $"o& $ro- the- an #e seured.

Suh a $or- o$ e"ite ana"%sis an a"so he"p us to de!e"op a #etter understanding o$ &hat ann

(2006* a""s the dia"etia" re"ationship #et&een institutiona"ized po&er @ that is) :po&er as do-i+

nation @ and interstitia" or e-ergent po&er @ that is) :po&er as net&or. ann (2006) p. 343*

insists that soia" and organizationa" hange is a"&a%s and e!er%&here generated #% :the dia"eti

#et&een institutiona"ization and the interstitia" e-ergene o$ po&er net&ors. e a"so ad!oates

a $or- o$ :organizationa" -ateria"is- as the -ost appropriate onto"ogia" and ana"%tia" too" $or de!e"oping an historia" soio"og% o$ the o-p"e; and d%na-i dia"eti #et&een :po&er as

do-i+ nation and :po&er as net&or. % ana"%tia""% $ousing on $our :po&er net&ors

(:-i"itar%)

:eono-i) :po"itia" and :ideo"ogia"* as h%#rid o-#inations o$ -ateria" resoures and po"iti+

a" praties) ann onentrates on the &ide range o$ organizationa" $or-s through &hih di$$er+

ent t%pes o$ po&er resoures are stored) nurtured and -o#i"ized #% e"ite orporate agents

(:oeri!e)

:a""oati!e) :e;pert and :authoritati!e in Sotts ter-ino"og%* in pursuit o$ -onopo"% ontro"

o!er the -eans and -ehanis-s o$ do-ination. This "eads hi- to onstrut and e!a"uate a series

o$ ana"%tia""% strutured narrati!es $oused on the e"ite ontro" strugg"es that e-erge $ro- thedia"eti #et&een institutiona"ized and interstitia" po&er as it inde"i#"% shapes and reshapes the

do-ination strutures &ithin &hih e"ites are e-#edded.

Iie&ed in these ter-s) #ureauratization @ that is) the gradua" e;tension and



institutiona"ization o$ #ureaurati -odes o$ do-ination and -eans o$ ontro" @ :&as a -o!e in

the strugg"e #et&een



Reed

213

&hoe!er &as the para-ount "ord at an% partiu"ar -o-ent and his a""ies and ri!a"s a-ong other

great patri-onia" househo"ds (o""ins) 2006) p. 28*. One the% #eo-e -ore $ir-"% e-#edded in

re"ati!e"% entra"ized state ad-inistrati!e strutures $ai"itating the e$$eti!e oordination and

on+ tro" o$ e;tended geopo"itia" on$igurations re"eased $ro- the restriti!e onstritions

i-posed #% $euda"isti d%nasti househo"ds) e-ergent #ureaurati -odes o$ do-ination and

-eans o$ ontro" #eo-e inre-enta""% dispersed throughout -odernizing soieties and

eono-ies in &a%s that -o#i"ize -ore e$$eti!e e"ite inter!entions in intra+state and interstate

po&er strugg"es. ut) ine!i+ ta#"%) gaps) $issures and #reas e-erge &ithin the intersties o$ these

institutiona"ized strutures o$ po&er sustained #% #ureaurati -odes o$ do-ination and ontro"

#eause the "atter are una#"e to dea" &ith the e!er+present) i$ une!en) threat to the esta#"ished

po"itia" order. 't is &ithin these intersties o$ institutiona"ized po&er that -ore d%na-i and

inherent"% desta#i"izing po&er net+ &ors e-erge and de!e"op in &a%s that) e!entua""%) threaten

the re"ati!e ohesion and resi"iene o$ esta#"ished do-ination strutures (a the-e e;p"ored in

-ore detai" in the ne;t part o$ this paper*.s a genera" ru"e) ann (2006* suggests that the stronger the supporting organizationa" in$ra+

struture o$ po&er re"ations underpinning the ru"e o$ do-inant e"ites) the "ess dependent the% are

"ie"% to #e on oeri!e po&ers to -aintain their hege-oni positions &ithin pre!ai"ing do-ina+

tion strutures. Thus) the re"ati!e po"itia" sta#i"it% and ontinuit% $ai"itated through e$$eti!e

institutiona"ization and reprodution o$ e"ite po&er and ontro" ounter#a"anes the ende-i ten+

den% to&ards oeri!e and regressi!e -odes and -eans o$ ru"ing @ i$ and &hen esta#"ished

do-i+ nation strutures are under-ined and threatened in an% su#stantia" &a% (Reed) in press*.

Ce!erthe"ess) ann argues) e!en the -ost &e""+integrated and sta#i"ized do-ination strutures

and the s%ste-s o$ e"ite ru"ing that the% -ateria""% and ideo"ogia""% support &i"" ine!ita#"% #e

su#Eet to desta#i"izing shos and ruptures that #egin to unstith the !er% $a#ri o$ organizationa"oordi+ nation and ontro" through &hih the% are authorized. Co&here is this -ore "ear"% the

ase than &hen esta#"ished do-ination strutures and the s%ste-s o$ e"ite ru"ing that the%

$ai"itate #egin to dea% and o$$er the opportunit% to esta#"ished and e-ergent e"ite groupings to

e;p"oit the intensi+ $%ing po&er strugg"es that r%sta""ize around the gaps and tears in the

institutiona"ized po&er re"a+ tions that suh dea% ine!ita#"% generates. 't is out o$ these

interstitia" po&er re"ations @ &hih strengthen) as hins and re!ies &ithin dea%ing

institutiona"ized po&er re"ations &iden and deepen as a resu"t o$ the &eaening organizationa"

in$rastruture o$ po&er re"ations that suh dea% neessari"% entai"s @ that ne& arenas o$ intra+

e"ite) inter+e"ite and ontra+e"ite po&er strugg"e e-erge and #egin to i-pat upon the ontro"

regi-es through &hih e"ite do-ination is authorized and "egiti-ated.

"hanging %or,s of Elite Power and "ontrol: "ase/istories

'n the penu"ti-ate setion o$ this paper three ase histories in hanging $or-s o$ e"ite po&er and

ontro" are disussed as pro!iding e-piria" i""ustrations o$ the e;p"anator% potentia" o$ the theo+

retia" $ra-e&or $or de!e"oping an historia" soio"og% o$ the dia"eti #et&een institutiona"ized

and interstitia" po&er de!e"oped in pre!ious setions.

Hah o$ these ase histories @ a"though o!ering !er% di$$erent soio+te-pora" "oations and

institutiona" do-ains @ shares o--on ana"%tia" $eatures inso$ar as the% identi$% and e;p"ain the

dea% o$ pre+e;isting :o--and situations and the do-ination strutures through &hih the%

&ere -aintained and e;p"oited #% esta#"ished :authoritati!e and :e;pert e"ites. 'n partiu"ar) the%

$ous on the -o#i"ization o$ inno!ati!e :-ora" !oa#u"aries o$ disourse and the e-ergene o$



ne& e"ite po"itia" a""ianes and oa"itions around interstitia" po&er re"ations that ha""enge

esta#"ished do-+ ination strutures and stri!e to e;p"oit the opportunities that the "atter open up.

Hah o$ the ases




dou-ents the reordering o$ po&er re"ations #et&een esta#"ished and e-ergent groupings &ithin

and #et&een :authoritati!e and :e;pert e"ites onseuent upon the dea% o$ pre+e;isting :o-+

-and situations and the strategi redep"o%-ent o$ a range o$ -ateria" and ideo"ogia" resoures

in order to ensure that suh a reordering "eads to $unda-enta" hange in the distri#ution o$

re&ards. The% a"so high"ight the e-ergene o$ h%#rid po"itia" regi-es out o$ this reordering o$ po&er re"a+ tions that tae on a :po"%arhi or :po"%rati $or- in &hih the strutura"

ontraditions #et&een the :reo-#inant institutiona"ization (rouh) 2005* o$ e"ite ru"e and

staeho"der p"ura"is- gener+ ate under"%ing tensions that dri!e ne& phases o$ d%na-is- and

uphea!a". 'n a"" o$ these respets) they provide dramatic illuminations of what !ann "#$$%& calls

the dialectical interplay between institutional "‘power as domination’& and interstitial "‘power as

network’& power as it opens up new ‘zones of manoeuvre’ that are exploited, with varying degrees

of strategic vision and tactical skill, by hierarchically stratified elite groups as they strive to

shape and control the governance regimes emerging from the new ‘command situations’ that such

innovative structural mechanisms generate.

Architects of Annihilation: Expert Elites, the FinalSolution and a e!EuropeanOrder

"% and ei- (1991* ana"%se the inre-enta" dea% and e!entua" disso"ution o$ the do-ination

strutures &hih had e-erged $ro- the :o--and situations that had go!erned post+,ei-ar

Jer-an%. ,hi"e traditiona" authoritati!e e"ites oup%ing e% positions &ithin the #ureauratized

:o--and situations that had de!e"oped in post+,ei-ar Jer-an% during the 1920s and ear"%

1930s see-ed re"ati!e"% seure in their do-inane) their po&er had &aned during the 1930s as

the resu"t o$ a dead"% o-#ination o$ eono-i depression and po"itia" disintegration that

under-ined the institutiona" $oundations o$ their po&er and ontro". Luring the ourse o$ the

1930s a ne& group o$ e;pert e"ites) o-ing predo-inant"% $ro- -idd"e+"ass) rather than

aristorati and upper+ "ass) #agrounds) #ea-e inreasing"% po&er$u" and inre-enta""%

disp"aed esta#"ished author+ itati!e e"ites $ro- the e% #ureaurati positions that the% oupied

&ithin the pre!ai"ing institutiona"ized po&er strutures. These e;pert e"ites $or-ed a ne&

tehnora% that $unda-en+ ta""% reonstruted pre+e;isting :o--and situations and the -ora"

!oa#u"aries o$ disourse through &hih the ne& regi-e &as "egiti-ated and regu"ated. One

the% had purged the state and "oa" #ureauraies o$ an% re-aining :regressi!e e"e-ents) suh as

ethnia""% prosri#ed groups) soia"ists and :inte""etua"s) the% set a#out i-p"e-enting a radia")raia""% #ased) ru"ing ideo"og% that &as intended to trans$or- Hast Jer-an% and #e%ond o!er the

ne;t 25 %ears. The% did not adopt Cationa"ist Soia"ist ideo"og% as a persona" reed #ut it

pro!ided the- &ith the -a;i-u- $reedo- o$ ation in the pursuit o$ their po"i% a-#itions.

s "% and ei- (1991) p. 287* put itM

AthisB &as the %oungest and -ost $"e;i#"e aade-i e"ite that had e!er o-e to po&er in Jer-an%. The%

s&ept a&a% :out-oded strutures) and in the $irst $i!e %ears o$ the Third Reih the% auired

onsidera#"e $reedo- $or -anoeu!re and sope $or the e;erise o$ authorit% and the seats o$ po"itia"

po&er #ea-e e!er -ore tight"% inter&o!en.

uh o$ their o""eti!e ti-e and e$$ort &as spent trans"ating the re"ati!e"% a#strat ideo"ogia"

prinip"es and "ai-s artiu"ated #% part% e"ites and adres into :pratia" progra--es that ou"d

#e i-p"e-ented through !arious organizationa" and tehno"ogia" inno!ations. 'n turn) the "atter



$ai"itated the up&ard soia" -o#i"it% o$ this ne& and rising e;pert e"ite &ho possessed the

reuired speia"ist e;pertise and tehnia" si""s to o!ero-e the o"d :o--and situations and

do-ination



Reed

214

strutures through &hih se-i+$euda"isti and soia""% #a&ard authoritati!e e"ites had -anaged

to ste- :the tide o$ -odernit%. Thus) #% the out#rea o$ the Seond ,or"d ,ar) :the Jer-an

state turned deisi!e"% a&a% $ro- the anti+Se-itis- o$ the street and the -o# and de"egated its

=Ne&ish uestion> to state institutions) p"aing it in the hands o$ e;perts $ro- a &ide range o$

disip"ines ("% ei-) 1991) p. 289*. rising adre o$ tehnorati e"ites) ar-ed &ith a radia"

ideo"og%) a-e to oup% the e% po&er positions &ithin the :o--and situations and

do-ination stru+ tures o$ the Jer-an state the% p"a%ed the e% ro"e in ensuring that authoritati!e

e"ites "e$t o!er $ro- the o"d regi-e &ou"d not stand in the &a% o$ the rapid organizationa" and

tehno"ogia" -od+ ernization reuired to -ae genoide :a neessar% reuire-ent $or "ong+ter-

do-ination and eo+ no-i su#Eugation ("% ei-) 1991) p. 290*. These e;pert e"ites

inha#ited a &or"d haraterized #% a o--on tehnorati u"ture o$ rationa" a"u"ation) #road

onsensus) "ose persona" ties and ontinuit%GThans to the e$$orts o$ a "e!er tehnorati e"ite) &hat

&as origina""% a raist progra--e &ith popu"ist appea" no& :-ade sense in eono-i po"i% ter-s as&e"". ("% ei-) 1991) 290@2*

s ro&ning (2005* has a"so noted) onser!ati!e "anded e"ites and #ureaurati e"ites in post+

<irst ,or"d ,ar Jer-an% -a% ha!e had "itt"e enthusias- $or) -uh "ess o--it-ent to) the radi+

a" po"iies and progra--es o$ an inreasing"% po&er$u") not to sa% do-inant) tehnorati e"ite

that sa& the "ong+ter- potentia" o$ the !isionar% ideo"ogia" i-perati!es that arried their part%

"eaders $or&ard. ?et) #oth this ne& tehnorati e"ite and Cazi part% "eadership) he a"so argues)

&ere $ored to operate &ithin a po"%rati po"itia" regi-e in &hih protrated deision+-aing

proesses) in!o"!ing a o-p"e; p"ura"it% o$ e"ite groups and their operationa" -anagers) ou"d

on"% #e proper"% proseuted i$ the% &ere onstant"% supported #% a proess o$ ontinua":#ureaurati -o-entu- that per-eated do&n and through the entra" and "oa" state apparatus.

Thus) an e-erging #ureaurati :-ahiner% o$ destrution had to #e ontinua""% re!ita"ized and

supported #% an e"ite o$ pro$essiona" e;perts &ho had to o!ero-e the dou#ts) and e!en

do&nright opposi+ tion) o$ esta#"ished onser!ati!e and #ureaurati e"ites. The po"%rati regi-e

that had e-erged and taen institutiona" root in 1930s Jer-an% &as ri!en #% high"% o-petiti!e

and &aste$u" po&er strugg"es &ithin and #et&een #oth authoritati!e and e;pert e"ites &ho &ere

deter-ined to esta#"ish ontro" o!er the strategi po"i%+-aing agenda and the su#stanti!e

outo-es that it &ou"d pro+ due. ut e;pert e"ites) &oring in onert &ith e% -e-#ers o$ the

part% "eadership and #ureau+ ra%) e!entua""% ensured that the Jer-an o$$iia" state #ureaura%)

&ith its notions o$ "ega" authorit%) due proess and paterna"isti responsi#i"it%) &as s&ept aside to-ae &a% $or ne& :o-+ -and situations and e-ergent do-ination strutures that &ou"d support

the i-p"e-entation o$ radia" popu"ation and soia" po"iies reuiring the unrestrained

-o#i"ization o$ the u"tura") teh+ no"ogia" and organizationa" -eans and -ehanis-s dediated

to the rea"ization o$ a :ne& Huropean order. The% &ere to #e the :arhitets o$ annihi"ation that

&ou"d i-pose a top+do&n re!o"ution that &ou"d radia""% trans$or- the &ho"e o$ Hurope and

esta#"ish a :ne& order in &hih Jer-an% #ea-e the do-inant $ore.

"o#ilizing Science Against Science: Expert Elitesand the $olitics of En%iron&ental'egradation

Oreses and on&a%s (2010* stud% $ouses on the institutiona"ization o$ :#ig siene in the



Dnited States in the post+Seond ,or"d ,ar period and the gro&ing po&er o$ right+&ing

sienti$i and tehnorati e"ites oup%ing e% positions &ithin :#ig siene &ho &ere

deter-ined) &ith the -ateria" and -ora" support o$ orporate #usiness e"ites) to shi$t the $ous

o$ siene po"i%




on a range o$ strategi issues suh as "i-ate hange. 'n the i--ediate a$ter-ath o$ the Seond

,or"d ,ar) organized siene in the Dnited States had #een do-inated #% sienti$i and tehno+

rati e"ites s%-patheti to "i#era"+de-orati po"iies and progra--es that &ou"d -o#i"ize

speia"ist sienti$i no&"edge in support o$ state ation direted to -aEor pu#"i hea"th issues

suh as s-oing+re"ated diseases and "onger+ter- strategi issues suh as the eo"ogia" threat posed #% g"o#a" &ar-ing. o&e!er) during the 1950s things #egan to hange as a rising adre

o$ e-ergent sienti$i and tehnorati :e;pert e"ites) -an% o$ &ho- had #een origina""% asso+

iated &ith the anhattan FroEet to #ui"d the ato- #o-#) #egan to -o!e into e% po&er posi+

tions &ithin the do-ination strutures through &hih organized siene &as institutiona""%

oordinated and ontro""ed) suh as the DS ade-% o$ Siene and -aEor aade-i depart+

-ents at e"ite uni!ersities. The% &ere a"so $inania""% and ideo"ogia""% supported #% "eading

neo+onser!ati!e institutions in #usiness and go!ern-ent ir"es suh as the O"in <oundation

and the O"in 'nstitute $or Strategi Studies) deep"% o--itted to "aissez+$aire apita"is- and

neo+ "i#era" indi!idua"is-.

O!er a period o$ ti-e) this rising sienti$i and tehnorati e;pert e"ite &ere a#"e to sustain"ong+ter- ideo"ogia" and po"itia" opposition to the inreasing"% in$"uentia" "ai-s o$ those pro+

$essiona" e"ites supporti!e o$ en!iron-enta""% sensiti!e po"iies and progra--es re"ating to per+

sona" and pu#"i hea"th) "i-ate hange and sustaina#"e eono-i de!e"op-ent. The% de!e"oped

and i-p"e-ented a series o$ high+pro$i"e a-paigns that :-o#i"ized siene against siene that

is) the% used &hate!er sienti$i no&"edge and tehnia" e;pertise the% ou"d "a% their hands on

to disredit en!iron-enta"is- and to spread dou#t and on$usion o!er go!ern-ent+sponsored

po"iies and progra--es that &ere intended to i-pro!e persona" and pu#"i hea"th) suh as anti+

s-oing a-paigns and sa$er $ood prodution and hand"ing proesses. The% a"so ruth"ess"%

e;p"oited &hate!er rea" di!isions e;isted #et&een -ainstrea- sientists) or $a#riated these

&here none atua""% e;isted. 'nreasing"%) the esta#"ished sienti$i and tehnorati e"ite) pre!i+ous"% supporti!e o$ go!ern-ent inter!ention and regu"ation $oused on pu#"i hea"th i-pro!e+

-ent and en!iron-enta" protetion) $ound the-se"!es $ighting an ideo"ogia" rearguard ation

against this radia") neo+onser!ati!e ons"aught and inreasing"% under se!ere po"itia" pressure

to !aate the e% positions &ithin the do-ination strutures that the% had one on$ident"%

oupied.

Thus) this sustained neo+onser!ati!e atta on a pre!ious"% :-ainstrea-ed en!iron-enta"

siene &as on"% -ade possi#"e through the p"anned strategi in$i"tration o$ e% positions &ithin

the institutiona"ized po&er strutures o$ organized siene in the Dnited States) and its support+

ing in$rastruture in #ig #usiness) e"ite aade-ia and $edera" go!ern-ent) $ro- the 1950s

on&ards. This rising neo+onser!ati!e e;pert e"ite perpetrated an ideo"ogia" and po"itia" strat+eg% &here#% the enhaned go!ern-enta" regu"ation and ontro" neessari"% assoiated &ith the

e;pansion o$ en!iron-enta""% $riend"% po"iies and progra--es &as reinterpreted as :the s"ip+

per% s"ope to soia"is- and the -u"tip"e threats &hih this entai"ed to indi!idua" $reedo- and

the de-orati :&a% o$ "i$e. The% -anaged to s-ear their opponents &ithin the sienti$i e"ite

o--unit% as :oeri!e utopians and :tehno"og%+hating uddites (Oreses on&a%)

2010) pp. 248@65* &ho &ere prepared to go to an% "engths in order that go!ern-ents ou"d

e;erise u"ti-ate ontro" o!er its itizens "i!es in the na-e o$ :sa!ing the en!iron-ent. This

:-ora" !oa#u"ar% o$ disourse &ou"d strategia""% shape the deision+-aing agenda $or

en!iron-enta" po"iies and progra--es in the Dnited States o!er a period o$ se!era" deades

and &ou"d enourage a gro&ing pu#"i septiis- o!er the rea"it% o$ en!iron-enta" issues tothis da%.



Reed

21

he e! Oligarchs: Expert Elites and the $oliticsof State Securit

So"dato! and orogans (2010* stud% traes the institutiona" dea% and e!entua" o""apse o$ theSo!iet s%ste- in the 1990s) as the esta#"ished seurit% e"ite and the tehnorati e"ite in$rastru+

ture supporting it @ #oth organizationa""% "oated &ithin the o--ittee o$ State Seurit% (KJ*

@ #ea-e ter-ina""% inapa#"e o$ dea"ing &ith the -uh -ore o-p"e;) unsta#"e and unertain

soio+po"itia" en!iron-ent that post+o--unist Russia presented. Fre!ious"%) KJ o$$iia"s)

o$$iers and tehnorats had #een portra%ed as an inte""etua" e"ite that &ere strutura""% "oated

&ithin the ore institutiona" hierarhies and net&ors through &hih the So!iet s%ste- &as -ade

possi#"e and sustained as a :going onern. ut) during the 1980s) this pu#"i i-age o$ an e;pert

e"ite at the institutiona" heart o$ the So!iet s%ste- #ea-e inreasing"% di$$iu"t) i$ not

i-possi#"e) to sustain as the i--inent o""apse o$ the $or-er re!ea"ed an organizationa" rea"it%

haraterized #% interneine ri!a"ries and strutura" deo-position. Ce!erthe"ess) the KJ hadre-ained under the ontro" o$ the o--unist Fart% &hih :presided o!er e!er% setion)

depart-ent and di!ision (So"dato! orogan) 2010) p. 4*.

,ith the o""apse o$ the So!iet Dnion in 1991) the KJ &as radia""% restrutured and

denuded o$ -an% o$ its e;isting organizationa" responsi#i"ities) suh as :ounterespionage and

ounterter+ roris-) &hih &ere trans$erred to the <edera" Seurit% Ser!ie (<S*. The "atter) in

ti-e) &ou"d o-e to #e regarded as the e% seurit% organization proteting the ne&"% e-ergent

Russian state) and its diretor) I"adi-ir Futin) &ou"d e!entua""% #eo-e Russias e"eted

president. Dnder Futins diretion) a ne& state seurit% and tehnorati e"ite &as reated that

&ou"d great"% e;tend the responsi#i"ities and po&ers o$ the <S in a &a% and to a degree that

the% &ou"d e!entua""% #eo-e the :ne& no#i"it% &ithin the Russian state and its po"itia"eono-%. % the end o$ the

1990s) the <S and its authoritati!e and tehnia" e"ites had suess$u""% o-#ined the $untions

o$ a seret seurit% ser!ie and a "a& en$ore-ent agen%) as &e"" as organizationa""% $ai"itating

the trans$erene o$ its e% personne" into the top ehe"ons o$ po&er in the -edia) eduation)

#an+ ing) industr% and go!ern-ent. s So"dato! and orogan (2010) pp. 27@8) e-phasis added*

su-+ -arize the situation) #% the ear"% 2000sM

the -e-#ers o$ the KJ &ere part o$ an e"ite. ut &hen the So!iet Dnion o""apsed and Russia p"unged

into the ne& apita"is- $e& KJ o$$iers e-erged as #usiness "eaders. The% &ere out$"aned #%

%ounger) $"eeter hust"ers a new breed of oligarchs. 'nstead) KJ !eterans $ound their a""ing in seondand third tiers o$ the ne& #usiness strutures) running the seurit% depart-ents o$ the t%oons e-piresG

This ar-% o$ hidden <S o$$iers does not identi$% itse"$ to the rest o$ soiet%) and the% o$ten &or in

organizations entire"% undero!er @ &hi"e sending reports to <S "eadership and ati!e"% reruiting

-e-#ers.

?et) the <S is itse"$ interna""% di!ided and ridd"ed &ith organizationa") generationa") ethni

and regiona" tensions that o$ten #rea out into open on$"its that ha!e to #e -anaged and

ontro""ed in !arious &a%s. H!en #% the -idd"e o$ the 2000s) reports suggested a re"ati!e"% high

degree o$ inter+ na" dissension) di!ision and $rag-entation in &hih a :&ar o$ groups &ithin the

seurit% ser!ies &as o-pro-ising organizationa" e$$iien% and e$$eti!eness. Ce!erthe"ess)

So"dato! and orogans (2010) pp. 239@42* ana"%sis "ear"% suggests that the <S) under Futins

tute"age) and its e;pert e"ites) ha!e #een trans$or-ed into :a !anguard o$ sta#i"it% and order

&ithin the 21st+ entur% Russian state and soiet%. 'n partiu"ar) the strateg% o$ radia"

organizationa" e;pansion and a#sorption &hih the <S $o""o&ed under Futin entai"ed a



de"i#erate atte-pt :to ro"" #a i!i" soiet% and drastia""% redued the institutiona" and

ideo"ogia" spae $or po"itia" de#ate and pu#"i disussion. Thus) in toda%s Russia)




the seurit% ser!ies appear to ha!e on"uded that their interests) and those o$ the state the% are

guarding) re-ain a#o!e the "a&. The -ind+set o$ Russias <S has #een undenia#"% shaped #% So!iet and

Tsarist histor%. 't is suspiious) in&ard "ooing) and "annish. (So"dato! orogan) 2010) p. 242*

This is the :-ora" !oa#u"ar% o$ disourse through &hih the ne& tehnorati e"ite that do-i+nates the <S is deter-ined to "egiti-ate its po&er and ontro" &ithin the Russian state and

#e%ond into the -%riad o$ po&er net&ors that onstitute onte-porar% Russian soiet% and

eono-%.

0iscussion and"onclusions

Hah o$ the three narrati!e ase histories disussed a#o!e pro!ides a te""ing i""ustration o$ the

o-+ p"e; proesses through &hih the d%na-is o$ intra+e"ite) inter+e"ite and ontra+e"ite po&er

strug+ g"es i-pat on the de!e"op-ent o$ do-ination strutures) &hether in post+,ei-ar Cazi

Jer-an%) post+Seond ,or"d ,ar -erian siene or post+ glasnost seurit% state Russia. The%

a"so high+ "ight the ruia" e;p"anator% i-portane o$ the hanging :o--and situations that

de!e"op $ro- these e"ite po&er strugg"es oa"esing around e-erging :zones o$ -anoeu!re as

the% generate and esta#"ish the ne& po&er positions and re"ations that &i"" shape su#seuent

phases o$ restruturing in $or-s o$ do-ination and the organizationa" -ahiner% through &hih

the% are supported and -ain+ tained. gain) &e are re-inded o$ anns (2006* entra" argu-ent

that it is the o-p"e; interp"a% #et&een :institutiona" and :interstitia" po&er @ that is) #et&een

:po&er as do-ination and :po&er as net&or @ &ithin and aross a &ide range o$ soio+

te-pora" onte;ts that inde"i#"% on$ig+ ures the -ateria" onditions and organizationa" $or-s

on and through &hih e"ite po&er po"itis is engaged in) &ith suh $ate$u" onseuenes $or the-and the rest o$ us. This is not si-p"% a -atter o$ e"ite reprodution or rene&a" #ut a high"%

o-p"e; soio+historia" proess o$ strategia""% uash+ ing and tatia""% under-ining the

po"itia") eono-i and u"tura" do-inane o$ esta#"ished po&er e"ites #% e-erging po&er e"ites

that &i"" i-pat on a soiet%s e!o"!ing institutiona" "andsape in a pro$ound and "asting -anner.

Reent"%) ar"e% (2010* has argued that the de"ine o$ researh on e"ites is one o$ the -aEor

reasons &h% organizationa" researhers ha!e neg"eted the i-pat o$ po&er$u" organizations and)

in partiu"ar) po&er$u" #usiness orporations) on soiet%. e a"so #ui"ds on a"d and ouns#ur%s

(2010* e% onept o$ :o--and posts as entres o$ soieta" po&er that shape soio+po"itia"

order in an% soiet% and po"itia" eono-%. % $ousing on :pea organizations as :o--and

posts entai"ing assoiations or net&ors o$ organizations that represent and at on #eha"$ o$ their o""eti!e -e-#ership) he uno!ers the strategi ro"e that po&er$u" #usiness orporations in the

Dnited States ha!e p"a%ed in "egiti-ating and institutiona"izing organizationa" $ie"ds that are ideo+

"ogia""% and po"itia""% supporti!e o$ their orporate interests during the 1970s and 1980s. 'n

tra+ ing the intentiona" -o#i"ization o$ -ateria" and s%-#o"i resoures #% orporate e"ites that

&ou"d pro!e to #e ritia" in institutiona"izing pro+#usiness organizationa" $ie"ds) ar"e%

identi$ies the ritia" ro"e that the d%na-is o$ e"ite agen% p"a%s in reating) e"a#orating and

trans$or-ing do-ination strutures.

'n a""ing $or historia" and o-parati!e in!estigation o$ the e% strutura" or generati!e

-eh+ anis-s through &hih pea organizations and their inu-#ent e"ites shape and reshape the

insti+ tutiona" en!iron-ents in &hih the% are e-#edded) ar"e% is suggesting a ne& diretion$or onte-porar% organizationa" researh and ana"%sis entire"% in eeping &ith the argu-ents

de!e"+ oped in this paper. The "atter has insisted that in+depth historia" and o-parati!e ana"%sis

o$ the strutura" d%na-is o$ e"ite do-ination and ru"e is o$ $unda-enta" i-portane to our



understand+ ing o$ onte-porar% organizationa" $or-s and the po&er re"ations through &hih

the% are sus+ tained. This is partiu"ar"% the ase at a ti-e &hen the organizationa" $or-s through

&hih po&er



Reed

215

resoures are ontained and -o#i"ized to generate ne& go!ernane regi-es &ithin and aross

institutiona" en!iron-ents are see-ing"% #eo-ing -ore o-p"e; and :h%#ridized ("egg et a".)

2006 ourpasson) 2006 ourpasson "egg) 2006 ourpasson Lan%) 2009 Reed) 2010a)

2010#*. % o-#ining se"eted e"e-ents o$ o"igarhia" do-ination and p"ura"isti staeho"der

partiipation &ithin the sa-e go!ernane regi-e) esta#"ished organizationa" e"ites see- #etter

p"aed to ope &ith the ende-i ontraditions and tensions that haraterize onte-porar%

insti+ tutiona" en!iron-ents. Thus) h%#ridized go!ernane regi-es) #ased on :o--and

situations that integrate) ho&e!er i-per$et"% and ontingent"%) e"ite do-ination and su#+e"ite

partiipation) o$$er strutura" -ehanis-s through &hih inherent"% unsta#"e and $ragi"e po&er

re"ations an #e on!erted into -ore sta#"e and resi"ient organizationa" $or-s. Suh regi-es &i""

sti"" ontain deep+seated tensions and on$"its &ithin and #et&een ru"ing e"ite groups) as &e"" as

those groups $a""ing outside the po"itia" arenas &ithin &hih the $or-er operate. These tensions

and on$"its are "ie"% to pro!ide the soure $or su#seuent phases o$ regi-e de!e"op-ent and

hange as their under"%ing d%na-is #egin to orrode and under-ine the do-ination struturesthat ha!e e-erged $ro- pre!ious phases o$ e"ite po&er strugg"e @ as re!ea"ed in a"" three o$ the

narrati!e ase histo+ ries o!er!ie&ed in the pre!ious setion o$ this paper.

onsidered in these ter-s) the h%#ridized go!ernane regi-es @ and their supporting o-+

-and situations @ that see- to #e inreasing"% pro-inent in onte-porar% institutiona"

en!iron+ -ents pro!ide e$$eti!e strutura" -ehanis-s $or -anaging and regu"ating the

under"%ing ontraditions and tensions #et&een :institutiona"ized po&er and :interstitia"

po&er &hih are so entra") in e;p"anator% ter-s) to the ana"%sis o$ the d%na-is o$ e"ite ru"e

de!e"oped in this paper. ?et) as pre!ious disussion has a"so on!e%ed) suh h%#ridized

go!ernane regi-es ha!e #een around $or a "ong ti-e (e.g. Cazi Jer-an% in the 1930s* and

the% are inherent"% i-per$et -ehanis-s $or ontaining and regu"ating the strutura""% #asedtensions and on+ $"its that &i"" ine!ita#"% e-erge to orrode and deo-pose esta#"ished

do-ination strutures in the $u""ness o$ ti-e.

Ce!erthe"ess) a sustained ana"%tia" $ous on the generation and e"a#oration o$ h%#ridized go!+

ernane regi-es pro!ides organizationa" researhers &ith a !ita" &a% in to a #etter understanding

o$ the d%na-is o$ e"ite ru"ing and the o-p"e; &a%s in &hih the% shape the :o--and

situations through &hih onte-porar% do-ination strutures are sustained and trans$or-ed. H"ite

theor% -ust #e de!e"oped through oneptua"ization and -ode" #ui"ding that is sensiti!e to the

inherent"% d%na-i nature o$ e"ite po&er and ontro" through the design and dep"o%-ent o$ h%#rid

go!ernane regi-es that) #% their !er% nature) ontain under"%ing interstitia" #reas and tensions

that &i"" nees+ sari"% generate ne& soures o$ hange and inno!ation. ut it -ust a"so re-ainana"%tia""% attuned to the o-p"e; &a%s in &hih e"ite po&er is institutiona""% trans$or-ed into

do-ination strutures that &i"" inde"i#"% onstrain and shape the :zones o$ -anoeu!re that #oth

esta#"ished and aspirant ru"ing groups ha!e a!ai"a#"e to the- as the% routine"% engage in po"itia"

strugg"es to ontro" the agenda $or hange and inno!ation. 't is :the d%na-is o$ do-ination that

-ust "ie at the oneptua" and ana"%tia" ore o$ e"ite theor% and ana"%sis in onte-porar%

organization studies.

%unding

This researh reei!ed no spei$i grant $ro- an% $unding agen% in the pu#"i) o--eria") or not+$or+pro$it

setors.

Referenc



es

"%) J.) ei-) S. (1991*. 'rchitects of annihilation( 'uschwitz and the logic of destruction. ondonM

,eiden$e"d Cio"son.

rher) . (2003*. Struture) agen% and the interna" on!ersation. a-#ridgeM a-#ridge Dni!ersit% Fress.



220 Organization Studies33(2)

ar"e%) S. R. (2010*. ui"ding an institutiona" $ie"d to orra" a go!ern-entM ase to set an agenda $or

organi+ zation studies. )rganization *tudies, +) 777@805.

ourdieu) F. (1996*. he state nobility( Elite schools in the field of power . a-#ridge) DKM Fo"it%.

ro&ning) . (2005*. he origins of the final solution( he evolution of .azi /ewish policy 0+0102# .

ondonM rro& oos.a""on) .) atour) . (1981*. Dnsre&ing the #ig e!iathanM o& ators -arostruture rea"it% and soi+

o"ogists he"p the- to do so. 'n K. L. Knorr+etina . ioure" (Hds.*) 'dvances in social theory and

methodology( owards an integration of micro and macro sociologies (pp. 227@303*. ondonM Rout"edge

Kegan Fau".

"ar) F. (2000*. )rganizations in action( 3ompetition between contexts. ondonM Rout"edge.

"egg) S. R. (1989*. 4rameworks of power . ondonM Sage.

"egg) S. R.) ourpasson) L.) Fhi""ips) C. (2006*. 5ower and organizations. ondonM Sage.

o""ins) R. (2006*. anns trans$or-ation o$ the "assia" soio"ogia" traditions. 'n N. . a"" R.

Shroeder (Hds.*) 'n anatomy of power( he social theory of !ichael !ann (pp. 19@32*. a-#ridge)

DKM a-#ridge Dni!ersit% Fress.

ourpasson) L. (2006*. *oft constraint( 6iberal organizations and domination. openhagenM openhagenusiness Fress.

ourpasson) L.) "egg) S. R. (2006*. Lisso"!ing the iron age Toue!i""e) ihe"s) #ureaura% and the

perpetuation o$ e"ite po&er. )rganization) +) 319@343.

ourpasson) L.) Lan%) <. (2009*. u"tures o$ resistane in the &orp"ae. 'n S. R. "egg . augaard

(Hds.*) he *age handbook of power (pp. 322@347*. ondonM Sage.

rouh) . (2005*. 3apitalist diversity and change( 7ecombinant governance and institutional entrepre-

neurs. O;$ordM O;$ord Dni!ersit% Fress.

Lean) . (1999*. 8overnmentality( 5ower and rule in modern society. ondonM Sage.

Ler#er) . ,.) Sh&artz) .) agrass) ?. (1990*. 5ower in the highest degree( 5rofessionals and the rise

of a new mandarin order . Ce& ?orM O;$ord Dni!ersit% Fress.

Lo-ho$$) ,. J. (1967*. 9ho rules 'merica: Hng"e&ood "i$$s) CNM Frentie a"".Lo-ho$$) ,. J. (1971*. he higher circles( he governing class in 'merica. Ce& ?orM Rando- ouse.

<au"on#ridge) N.) uzio) L. (2008* J"o#a"ization and the pro$essions. 9ork, Employment and *ociety, ##)

7@26. <ouau"t) . (2003*. *ociety must be defended . ondonM ""en ane) Fenguin Fress.

Jiddens) . (1979*. 3entral problems in social theory. ondonM a-i""an.

Jo"sorhi) L.) ea) .) ouns#ur%) .) Ra-irez) . (2009*. na"%sing) aounting $or and un-as+

ing do-inationM Our ro"e as sho"ars o$ pratie) pratitioners o$ soia" siene and pu#"i inte""etua"s.

)rganization, % ) 799@797.

a"") N.) Shroeder) R. (Hds.* (2006*. 'n anatomy of power( he social theory of !ichael !ann.

a-#ridge) DKM a-#ridge Dni!ersit% Fress.

ardt) .) Cegri) . (2000*. Empire. a-#ridge) M ar!ard Dni!ersit% Fress.

augaaard) .) "egg) S. R. (Hds.* (2009*. 'ntrodutionM ,h% po&er is the entra" onept in the soia"sienes. 'n S. R. "egg . augaard (Hds.*) he *age handbook of power (pp. 1@24*. ondonM Sage.

o) K. (2009*. 6i;uidated( 'n ethnogrpagy of 9all *treet . ondonM Lue Dni!ersit% Fress.

Knights) L. (2009*. Fo&er at &or in organizations. 'n . "!esson) T. ridg-an) . ,i""-ott (Hds.*)

he )xford handbook of critical management studies (pp. 144@165*. O;$ordM O;$ord Dni!ersit% Fress.

a&) N. (1994* )rganizing modernity. O;$ordM "a&e"".

a&) N.) assard) N. (1999*. 'ctor network theory and after . Soio"ogia" Re!ie& onograph. O;$ordM

"a&e"". a%der) L. (1997*. !odern social theory. ondonM Dni!ersit% o""ege o$ ondon Fress.

a%der) L. (2005*. <nderstanding social theory) seond edition. ondonM Sage.

ues) S. (2005*. 5ower( ' radical view) seond edition. ondonM Fa"gra!e a-i""an.

ann) . (1986*. he sources of social power, =olume >( ' history from the beginning to ?%$ '@ .

a-#ridge) DKM a-#ridge Dni!ersit% Fress.ann) . (1993*. he sources of social power, =olume >>( he rise of classes and nation states. a-#ridge)




Reed

221

ann) . (2006*. The soures o$ soia" po&er re!isitedM response to ritiis-. 'n N. . a"" R.

Shroeder (Hds.*) 'n anatomy of power( he social theory of !ichael !ann (pp. 343@396*. a-#ridge)


ann) . (2011*. 5ower in the # st century( 3onversations with /ohn 'A Ball . a-#ridge) DKM Fo"it%.i""er) F.) Rose) C. (2008*. 8overning the present( 'dministering economic, social and personal life.

a-#ridge) DKM Fo"it%.

i""s) . ,. (1956*. he power elite. Ce& ?orM O;$ord Dni!ersit% Fress.

unro) R. (2009* tor net&or theor%. 'n S. R. "egg . augaard (Hds.*) he *age handbook of power

(pp. 125@139*. ondonM Sage.

Oreses) C.) on&a%) H. . (2010*. !erchants of doubt . Ce& ?orM "oo-s#ur% Fress.

Fah") R. H.) ,in"er) N. T. (1974*. n eono-i e"iteM Theor% and pratie. 'n F. Stan&orth . Jiddens

(Hds.*) Elites and power in Critish society (pp. 102@122*. a-#ridge) DKM a-#ridge Dni!ersit% Fress.

Reed) . '. (2009*. ritia" rea"is- in ritia" -anage-ent studies. 'n . "!esson) T. ridg-an)

. ,i""-ott (Hds.*) he )xford handbook of critical management studies (pp. 52@75*. O;$ordM

O;$ord Dni!ersit% Fress.Reed) . '. (2010a*. The post+#ureaurati organization and the ontro" re!o"ution. 'n S. R. "egg) .

arris)

. op$" (Hds.*) !anaging modernity (pp. 230@256*. O;$ordM O;$ord Dni!ersit% Fress.

Reed) . '. (2010#*. ontro" in onte-porar% &or organizations. 'n F. "%ton) H. eer% F. Turn#u""

(Hds.*) 7eassessing the employment relationship (pp. 41@70*. ondonM Fa"gra!e a-i""an.

Reed) . '. (in press*. Theorizing po&er/do-ination and stud%ing organizationa" e"itesM ritia" rea"ist per+

speti!e. 'n L. ourpasson) L. Jo"sorhi J. Sa""z (Hds.*) 7esearch in the sociology of organizations

yearbook . Ce& ?orM H-era"d Fu#"ishers.

Rothop$) L. (2008*. *uperclass( he global power elite and the world they are making . Ce& ?orM itt"e)

ro&n. Sa!age) .) ,i""ia-s) K. (2008*. H"itesM Re-e-#ered in apita"is- and $orgotten #% soia"

siene. 'n. Sa!age K. ,i""ia-s (Hds.*) 7emembering elites (pp. 1@24*. O;$ordM "a&e"" Fu#"ishing.

Shroeder) R. (2006*. 'ntrodutionM the 'HF -ode" and its ritis. 'n N. . a"" R. Shroeder (Hds.*)

'n

anatomy of power( he social theory of !ichael !ann (pp. 1@16*. a-#ridge) DKM a-#ridge

Dni!ersit%

Fress.

Sott) N. (1996*. *tratification and power( *tructures of class, status and command . a-#ridge) DKM

a-#ridge Dni!ersit% Fress.

Sott) N. (2001*. 5ower . a-#ridge) DKM Fo"it%.

Sott) N. (2008*. odes o$ po&er and the reoneptua"ization o$ e"ites. 'n . Sa!age K. ,i""ia-s (Hds.*)

7emembering elites (pp. 27@45*. O;$ordM "a&e"" Fu#"ishing.So"dato!) .) orogan) '. (2010*. he new nobility( he restoration of 7ussia’s security state and the

enduring legacy of the D8C. Ce& ?orM Fu#"i $$airs.

Standing) J. (2010*. 9ork after globalization( Cuilding occupational citizenship. he"tenha-) DKM Hd&ard

H"gar. Ste&art) . (2001*. heories of power and domination. ondonM Sage.

Thri$t) C. (2005*. Dnowing capitalism. ondonM Sage.

Dsee-) . (1984*. he inner circle( 6arge corporations and the rise of business political activity in the <*

and <D . Ce& ?orM O;$ord Dni!ersit% Fress.

,e#er) . (1978*. Economy and society, volume >> ) Juenther Roth "aus ,ittih (Hds.*. ere"e%) M

Dni!ersit% o$ a"i$ornia Fress.

,hit"e%) R. (2003*. The de!e"op-ent and $uture o$ organization studies. )rganization, $) 481@501.

a"d) . C.) ouns#ur%) . (2010*. The &izards o$ OzM To&ards an institutiona" approah to e"ites) e;per+

tise and o--and posts. )rganization *tudies) +) 963@996.

Author



biogra#h!

Aie "eed is Fro$essor o$ Organizationa" na"%sis in ardi$$ usiness Shoo") ardi$$ Dni!ersit%) DK.

is researh interests $ous on the po"itis o$ organizationa" ontro" $ro- a ritia" rea"ist perspeti!e. e is

a $ounding editor o$ the Eourna" )rganization.

organization studies 2012 reed 203 21

Documents