Who Knows Whom? Acquaintanceship and Contacts in the Israeli National Elite

Abstract

Based upon data collected by means of a mailed questionnaire, this article examines the widely held assumption that "everyone knows everyone else" within the compact Israeli national elite. Data were collected on acquaintanceships among political, bureaucratic, economic, professional, academic, and cultural-artistic elites. The elites tend to be drawn from among the European-origin well educated minorities, although such features as kinship, schooling, and army service are unimportant for making initial contacts. The analysis shows that elite members do not all know one another, although groups such as politicians and media specialists are acquainted with a strikingly high proportion of elite members. Moreover, there appears to be a central core group within the elite composed of politicians, bureaucrats, and economic specialists who are strongly acquainted with one another. Finally, the findings indicate the demise of the elite "generalist, " and their replacement by functional, well trained specialists.

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