Researching power, elites and leadership

Written by a leading authority in the field, this book introduces the reader to a significant area of methodology, and provides a research-based contribution to elite and leadership studies. It offers a truly international perspective that will appeal to those studying and engaging with powerful people in a variety of contexts.

Useful features include:

- A variety of case studies and examples linked to over 1000 sources and resources

- Extensive use of figures throughout the text to illustrate key points

- Templates and models for planning and presentations

The book promotes a practical future-oriented approach to support and inspire academic, professional and civil society researchers at all levels. It introduces new research frameworks and facilitates critical techniques through Critical Process Analysis.

This is a must-have resource and an excellent new addition to the field of elite and leadership studies.

Author Notes

Christopher Williams works at the Centre for International Education and Research, University of Birmingham.

List of figures	p. ix
About the author	p. xii
Acknowledgements	p. xiii
List of abbreviations	p. xv
Introduction	p. 1
Why research powerful people?	p. 1
Who the book is for	p. 9
Key concepts	p. 10
How the book was researched	p. 12
A quick guide to the book	p. 14
The chapters	p. 15
Part 1 Understanding	p. 19
1 Origins	p. 21
1.1 Anthropology	p. 22
1.2 History	p. 30
1.3 Philosophy	p. 41
1.4 Up-system research	p. 46
2 Theory	p. 54
2.1 Power	p. 58
2.2 Elites	p. 63
2.3 Leadership	p. 68
2.4 Populace	p. 77
2.5 Critique	p. 81
Part 2 Doing	p. 89
3 Literature	p. 91
3.1 Searching	p. 92
3.2 Reviewing	p. 94
3.3 Topics	p. 99
4 Planning	p. 111
4.1 Design	p. 112
4.2 Focus	p. 114
4.3 Problematization	p. 119
4.4 Definitions	p. 121
4.5 Access	p. 124
4.6 Integrity	p. 128
5 Frameworks	p. 136
5.1 Direct	p. 137
5.2 Indirect	p. 139
5.3 Networks and systems	p. 145
6 Data	p. 153
6.1 Sources	p. 156
6.2 Selection	p. 175
6.3 Testing	p. 176
Part 3 Using	p. 183
7 Analysis	p. 185
7.1 Comparison	p. 186
7.2 Causation	p. 190
7.3 Consistency	p. 195
7.4 Contra-arguments	p. 200
7.5 Common sense	p. 202
7.6 Critical Process Analysis	p. 204
7.7 Conceptualization	p. 207
8 Outcomes	p. 211
8.1 Reporting	p. 212
8.2 Presentation	p. 215
8.3 Influencing change	p. 217
Appendices - Tools and templates for research planning	p. 223
1 Mapping a case study within a conceptual framework	p. 225
2 Linking the elements of a research study	p. 226
3 A basic research design	p. 227
4 A basic Gantt chart	p. 229
5 Achieving focus at, or across, specific levels	p. 230
6 Systematic links from topic to data collection	p. 231
7 Making distinctions between elite and leadership roles	p. 233
8 Explaining the focus of a study	p. 234
9 Standard research frameworks	p. 235
10 Relating basic questions to frameworks and information sources	p. 239
11 Comparing journalistic and academic approaches to access	p. 241
12 Instruments to implement power	p. 242
13 The structure of a press release	p. 244
Glossary	p. 245
Internet sources	p. 254
References	p. 261
Index	p. 311

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Author Notes

Table of Contents