Other Types of Elites

This chapter provides a qualitative discussion on how different types of “elites,” or influential actors, are likely to influence the incentives of leaders in both democratic and nondemocratic states. Previous chapters in this book provide a detailed discussion of both domestic economic and military elites. This chapter explores the role of additional actors that have historically played an important role in many states, such as cultural or religious figures, and foreign economic elites. The chapter posits that, in general, political environments with larger numbers of elites are more likely to produce political compromise and public goods provision.