Resumen

MANSILLA, H.C.F. The Transformation of Political Elites in Latin America: An Unusual  Perspective on this Theme. Revista de Ciencias Sociales [online]. 2006, vol.12, n.1, pp.9-20. ISSN 1315-9518.

Scarcely fifty years ago, Latin American societies had much less complex social structures. During the last half century almost all Latin American countries underwent notable modernization processes, which have produced an intense differentiation of social structures. The sector devoted to political activity has gained relative autonomy. A vast collective disillusionment, however, seems to be the result of these processes. The reform of state powers in terms of an administrative redesign is unfortunately the central occupation of the modern elite, together with corrupt practices. In some nations the transition from traditional aristocracy to a modern functional elite has implied not only a decline, but a true historical disaster.

Palabras clave : Aristocracy; complexity; disappointment; elite; modernization; tradition.