Elite Foundations of Liberal Democracy

The study delves into the role of elites in shaping and maintaining political regimes, emphasizing that even liberal democracies rely on united elite consensus. Authors John Higley and Michael Burton analyze how these elites have emerged in modern contexts and identify pressures that could alter elite structures in established democracies. They critically assess the implications of elite clustering around figures like George W. Bush, challenging prevailing optimistic views on the future of liberal democracy in the twenty-first century.