Privileged Few

Clive Hamilton is Professor of Public Ethics at Charles Sturt University in Canberra. He was the founder and executive director of The Australia Institute, Australia’s foremost progressive think tank. He has held various visiting academic positions, including at the University of Oxford, Sciences Po and Yale University. His many books include Requiem for a Species: Why we resist the truth about climate change, Defiant Earth: The fate of humans in the Anthropocene and Hidden Hand: How the Chinese Communist Party is reshaping the world (with Mareike Ohlberg). His opinions have been published in Nature, the New York Times, Le Monde, The Times and the Guardian.Myra Hamilton is an Associate Professor in Work and Organisational Studies at the University of Sydney Business School. She is a sociologist and social policy scholar with a focus on inequalities arising from gender, age and social disadvantage. A principal concern of her work is inequalities in the sphere of work. Her research explores how public and workplace policies can build equity and wellbeing over the life course.

"A fascinating study of how elite privilege, networks and schools contribute to the fabric and perpetuation of social inequality. A must-read."Thomas Piketty, EHESS, Paris"This is an important contribution to academic literature and social commentary that is written in an accessible style but informed by analysis and evidence. It will appeal to both expert and general audiences in many countries."Peter Saunders, University of New South Wales“The strength of the Hamiltons’ forensics is the thoroughness of the exposé; our emperors are left with no clothes at all. Many readers will be left thinking: I knew it was bad but I didn’t realise it was that bad.”Inside Story“With scholarly rigour, Clive and Myra Hamilton dissect the workings of privilege in Australia”Sydney Morning Herald, Non-fiction book of the week“detailed and elegantly written”Australian Book Review"deserves to be read by the widest possible audience."Journal of Australian Political Economy"The Privileged Few is a thought-provoking and deeply relevant sociological examination of the hidden structures that shape opportunities, influence decision-making and reinforce social hierarchies…. an essential starting point for much needed conversations about fairness, power and the future of social equity in a classed society."Network

• Introduction 1. Understanding elite privilege 2. The micropolitics of elite privilege 3. The geography of privilege 4. Replicating privilege: Elite schools 5. Sites of privilege 6. The power of giving 7. The privilege blender8. Hiding and justifying privilege9. Psychic harms 10. Economic and social harms 11. Contesting privilege