Pathways to Power

Class, Hyper-Agency and the French Corporate Elite

Datos Bibliográficos

ID5778934
AutoresMorag Maclean (0000-0001-9030-7492, University of Exeter Business School, UK), Mairi Maclean (University of Exeter Business School, UK), Charles Harvey (0000-0003-4231-0202, Newcastle University Business School, UK), Gerhard Kling (0000-0002-3029-7269, University of London)
Año2014
Volumen35
Número6
Páginas825-855
Fecha de publicación2014-01-22
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaOrganization Studies (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0170-8406 • E-ISSN: 1741-3044
EditorialSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0170840613509919
OpenAlexW2103299593
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas30
Referencias citadas93

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

Elite · Meritocracy · Objectification · Organizational field · Elite Sociology and Global Capitalism · Entrepreneurship Studies and Influences · Social and Cultural Dynamics