Economic Circumstances and Cultural Identity

I’m delighted to share with you a new conversation with returning guest, The Times columnist James Marriott. Those of you read James’ recent column about the mediocrities who rise to the top of our institutions will know that he has strong views on our elites. This conversation was recorded a while back, so we don’t discuss that column, but we do talk about a new book called Born To Rule: The Making and Remaking of British Elites, by the sociologists Sam Friedman and Aaron Reeves. James and I both really enjoyed the book and we were stimulated in particular by its discussion of the changing ways that elites have used culture to signal their status. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

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