Elites in Madagascar: a sociography

Mireille Razafindrakoto (), François Roubaud and Jean-Michel Wachsberger ()
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Mireille Razafindrakoto: IRD, UMR DIAL, PSL, Université Paris-Dauphine
Jean-Michel Wachsberger: CeRIES, Université de Lille, IRD, UMR DIAL

No DT/2018/06, Working Papers from DIAL (Développement, Institutions et Mondialisation)

Abstract: The role of the elites in Madagascar’s trajectory, especially in the formation and widening of inequalities as a known source of chronic socio-political instability, calls for a closer study of the elite group. This article establishes a sociography of the elites based on statistical surveys, including a unique representative survey focusing on the Red Island’s elites. It provides insights into their strategies to attain and remain in power, but also their opinions on the running of society and especially their views of the obstacles to and the drivers of the country’s long-term development. The majority of elites are from the old aristocracy. Social capital made up of a rich network in terms of its size, diversity and the intensity of the connections established within the elite circle and straddling is used as a strategy to access the highest hierarchical positions. This dominant class displays rather mixed attitudes to democratic principles. The main point of disagreement between elites and the rest of the population concerns the order of priorities on the political agenda. Although maintaining order counts the most for the elites, the rest of the population prioritises improved living conditions for the poor.

Keywords: Elites; Madagascar; Straddling; Network; Power; Statistical Survey; Social capital; Chevauchement; Réseau; Pouvoir; Enquête statistique; capital social. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D30 D63 O11 O55 P48 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 34 pages
Date: 2018-12
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