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LOCAL ELITES IN THE USA

nature & meaning of social character, degree of cohesiveness, degree of consensuality, degreeof commitment to democratic norms [once again, note further on the way in which 'democratic

norms' are defined] aforementioned variables studied in the context of the following research question: are local

authorities de facto capable of self-reliance in policy matters and as political units? [or is it?

Macrovariables: leadership and [economic/physical] resource; city size and resources dictateactual headroom for the possibilities the political has over the economical (large vs. small)

paradigmatic assumptions: elites are 'bourgeois' and oftentimes monolithically so, with a lowcirculation rate, Burkean in their views on representation,

first-hand experience of author in the field [ex-mayor!]: contingency rules the game [implied :lack of agency in small-town policies ]

data used: 30 US cities, in 1966 and 1983, first set of data part of a comparative study (Poland,India, Yugoslavia + Sweden); additional studies of elite cohesiveness and city council

membership

more and more variables introduced: elite circulation and 'representation' of community valuesamong elected elites

cohesiveness of elites decided by feeling of ability to act upon certain issues, ie agency[naturally, ideological cleavages apply]: proneness to rely on certain 'support groups' for

decisions; desire to run for a second term, view on 'virtual representation' vs. 'imperative

mandate' [termenii mei, more or less], etc

elite mentality (more variables, again. The only reason why the author can get away with this isthat it's a synthesis): citizen participation in decison-making, desire to innovate, egalitarianism,

admission of need for conflictual [ie competitive] politics [not entirely sure why such variables

are the best expression of 'democracy'] data found in tables at the end of the chapter, Sweden

was still heavily dominated by Social-Democratic ideals; US

little concern with economic

egalitarianism, other otherwise predictable results

conclusions: ca si la Sergiu, classical theories mostly infirmed, save for the Burkean issue; noreal conclusion on the extent of real agency, the emphasis shifts midway to the perceived one

questions/observations: Is the 'classical paradigm' a straw man he sets up merely to tear down?Is the consensus among classic authors significant enough to lump them together ideologically?

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Does the promotion of community values by members of the elite ultimately alter them? Apples

and oranges 'people's democracies' vs. established democracies, same goes for their economic

systems? No clear view on economic growth or stagnation on a national level and different

impacts on town vs. city.