Between the State and society – circulation of professions within the political elite

Abstract

This article aims to explore the theoretical structures that influence the formation of the elite class – or the elites – analysing the affirmation of these structures within the circulation of professions that have access to the political sphere, while comparing Foucault’s studies on parrhesia and eluteria with Weber’s concept of social closure by means of politicl parties, to understand how political professionals articulate their existence between civil society and public service. This analysis is orientated towards understanding the distinct traits of professional groups, as an objective characteristic for access to, and use of, power for personal benefit. Based on a study of MPs of the Portuguese Assembly of the Republic and the finding that “economists”, “lawyers” and “teachers” are the predominant professions, detailed analysis is provided of two structures of cohabitation within this elite class: characterised on the one hand, by nonchalance, fearlessness and the capacity to act frankly, enunciated as constituent inner qualities of any politician, and on the other hand, by externalized practices, with hidden goals in the strategies of the party apparatuses. These two structures establish two configurations – that of the full-time politician and that of the fractioned politician, both of which are cultivated in a hegemonic coexistence, which expresses, as an extensive mode of politics, a transmutation of ideological solidarity for the introduction of economic antagonism.