Elitism

A Progressive Defence

Eliane Glaser

• Publisher: Biteback Publishing
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781785906077
• eBook ISBN: 9781785906084
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Cultural & Social Anthropology
• Index: Social Sciences

The populist right have marshalled public anger against the real elites – corporate and financial power – and turned it onto those who represent us in Parliament, uphold our rights, treat us when we're sick, and create and curate the best books, art and ideas. Culture and education have been made into symbolic arenas of 'democratisation' while gross inequality remains intact.This important book argues that the real elites escape scrutiny while everything that makes our lives worth living becomes worthy and diluted.Meanwhile, liberals have lost their nerve, accepting the anti-elitism slur at face value. But social privilege is not the same thing as excellence. For too long conservatives have had a monopoly on upholding standards of beauty and truth. But now that they've become ruthless modernisers, it's time for progressives to take on that task. This book provides the ammunition for a timely rebuttal.

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Contents
• Introduction
• One: The New Anti-Elitism
• Two: Anti-Elitism Has a History
• Three: Elites and ‘Elites’
• Four: ‘Private Opulence and Public Squalor’
• Five: ‘Democratisation’ and the Culture Wars
• Six: The Great Capitulation
• Seven: How They Get Away With It
• Eight: Excellence Is Not Privilege
• Nine: High Art for All
• Ten: ‘Deference Is Dead’
• Eleven: A New Defence of Good Elitism
• Copyright