Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Department of Social Sciences - Berlin Graduate School of Social Science

Daniel Drewski

Name
Daniel Drewski
Cohort

BGSS Generation 2015

 

Title

The Officials of the European Commission: A Transnational Administrative Elite?

 

Abstract

The European Commission is counted among the most influential supranational organizations in the world, entrusted with the representation of the Community interests. It is run by a highly diverse administrative staff, coming from 28 different EU member states. However, while the sociology of elites has mostly focused on national elites, not much is known about those who “run Europe” on a daily basis. Therefore, this dissertation is going to analyze to what extent the Officials of the European Commission form a new kind of transnational administrative elite, and how one can account for the formation of this group. Using qualitative and quantitative interviewing methods, this dissertation will focus on the unique transnational competences, resources and ethos of European Commission Officials.