Taking Stock

Elite Studies and Social Change

Bibliographic Data

ID9782012
AuthorsLena Ajdacic (0000-0003-3961-9946, University of Lausanne Lausanne Switzerland), Ajdacic Lena (University of Lausanne, corresponding author), François Schœnberger (0009-0006-6021-6702, University of Oxford Oxford UK), Schoenberger François (University of Oxford, corresponding author), Johanna Behr (0009-0000-9930-3439, University of Lausanne Lausanne Switzerland), Behr Johanna (Centre Marc Bloch), Cescon Fabio (0009-0008-1564-2037, University of Amsterdam), Hubrich Lion (0009-0006-1765-7027, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin), Emma Ischinsky (0000-0002-3884-4052, MPIfG Cologne Germany), Ischinsky Emma (Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies), Salman Muneeb (0000-0002-3814-6836, National Defence University), Mazzucotelli Juliana (0009-0001-7168-2550, Université Stendhal – Grenoble 3), Mrčela Laura (University of Ljubljana), Laura Mrčela (0009-0007-8029-5070, University of Ljubljana Ljubljana Slovenia), Alonso Pi (0000-0001-8523-0996, El Colegio de México Mexico City Mexico), Pi Cholula Alonso (El Colegio de México), Roy Céline (0009-0005-8495-9140, University of Lausanne), Serrano Sophie (0000-0003-0140-1984, University of Neuchâtel), Helle Dyrendahl Staven (0009-0001-7342-7035, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University), Thakur Tina (0009-0005-3658-0822, National University of Educational Planning and Administration)
Year2026
Publication date2026-04-07
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBritish Journal of Sociology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0007-1315 • E-ISSN: 1468-4446
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/1468-4446.70093
PMID41944297
OpenAlexW7151228953
LanguageEN
References cited44

This article provides a systematic synthesis of contemporary elite sociology through the analytical lens of change and stability. We distinguish between two types of change: change within elites, referring to transformations in elite composition, circulation, or internal characteristics; and change by elites, designating processes whereby elites reshape broader social structures, norms, or inequalities. Through a systematic review of 164 empirical articles published in leading sociology journals between 2000 and 2024, we demonstrate that contemporary elite sociology engages extensively with temporal perspectives, though in asymmetric ways. By systematically examining combinations of elite types and research topics, we reveal systematic patterns: studies addressing nationality emphasize evolution and shifting configurations, while research on kinship and class more frequently examines continuity and reproduction. Crucially, we find that broader social change associated with elites is predominantly portrayed as an unintentional consequence rather than the result of deliberate strategic action. Based on these findings, we outline four directions for future research: reversing the temporal lens to investigate understudied dynamics; situating elite processes along a temporal spectrum that captures both continuity and transformation; examining the degree of intentionality in elites as agents of change; and integrating forward‐looking perspectives to understand how elites imagine and actively shape trajectories. This synthesis advances elite sociology by revealing how temporal perspectives fundamentally structure our understanding of power relations and by identifying critical gaps in how we conceptualize elites' relationship to social transformation

Elite · Historical sociology · Kinship · Power (physics) · Social change · Social dynamics · Contemporary Sociological Theory and Practice · Elite Sociology and Global Capitalism · Social and Cultural Dynamics