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Offering insightful anthropological-historical contributions to the understanding of elites worldwide, this book helps us grasp their ways of life and role in times of contested global inequalities. Case studies include the Polish gentry, the white former colonial elite of Mauritius, professional elites, and transnational (financial) elites.

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Introduction: An Anthropological Perspective on Elite Power and the Cultural Politics of Elites; T.Salverda & J.Abbink Researching Elites: Old and New Perspectives; H.Schijf Land, Historicity, and Lifestyle: Capital and its Conversions among the Gentry in Poland; L.Jakubowska Continuity and Change as Two Identifying Principles amongst Nepalese Nobility; S.Lotter Beyond Wealth and Pleasant Posture: Exploring Elite Competition in the Patronage Democracy of Indonesia; D.Simandjuntak In Defense: Elite Power; T.Salverda Pupillage: The Shaping of a Professional Elite; F.Pirie & J.Rogers Becoming Elite: Exclusion, Excellence and Collective Identity in Ireland´s Top Fee-paying Schools; A.Courtois Financial Professionals as a Global Elite; H.Ortiz Management Consultants at Work with Clients: Maintenance and Contestation of Elite Status; I.S.Smith Money Relations, Ideology and the Formation of a Cosmopolitan Elite at the Frontier of Transnational Capitalism: An Ethnographic Study of African Finance Professionals in Johannesburg; F.Bourgouin

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"Popular insurgency around the world has recently put the power of elites in the limelight. This fascinating collection of case studies reveals their insecurity as well as the strength that others often project onto them. Of special interest is the contrast between global financial elites, floating above national laws with impunity and more traditional elites embedded in local society." Keith Hart, codirector, Human Economy Program, University of Pretoria Co-Director Human Economy Program

"It is increasingly obvious that anthropological approaches substantially enrich the study of elites. This fine collection of essays contributes further to this trend both from a comparative and analytical standpoint." - Jean-Pascal Daloz, Research Professor, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, University of Strasbourg

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