The Danish Civil Society Elite 1910–2020: Continuity, Reproduction and Integration

Abstract

This chapter analyses the case of the historical development of the Danish civil society elite from 1910 to 2020. Existing approaches focus on elites in civil society, while this study focuses on elites of civil society, that is, leaders of central civil society organisations in Denmark. Using social network analysis, the analysis builds on a dataset from the Danish Who’s Who from 1910, 1965, and 2020. The study shows the causes that this elite has engaged in, the composition and reproduction of the elite, and the integration of this elite with other sector elites. Findings indicate a democratising, but distinguished elite concentrated in the capital and born by elite parents. They have continuous high engagement in health and humanitarian aid, but a declining engagement in housing and crime prevention. This elite is well integrated with the state, less so with politics, and increasingly with the educational-scientific sector, pointing to ‘diploma governance’.