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Cosmopolitan Brands: graduate students navigating the social space of elite global universities

Myers, Martin; Bhopal, Kalwant

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Authors

Kalwant Bhopal



Abstract

Drawing on Pierre Bourdieu’s analysis of the competition for economic, social and cultural capitals within educational fields, this article reports empirical research from 49 in-depth interviews with graduate students at four elite universities in the USA and the UK. It argues the brands of elite global universities work to reproduce social and cultural capital for a small cohort of elite students, and by doing so perpetuate and reinforce systems that privilege a select few. By drawing upon student narratives, our findings demonstrate the cosmopolitan nature of elite university brands. These ‘Cosmopolitan Brands’ are immersed in local and highly exclusive practices which reinforce wider inequalities of social class. We explore how individual students navigate their immersion and positioning within the brands of global elite universities; competing first as students at university before progressing to compete for power and status within global economies.

Citation

Myers, M., & Bhopal, K. (2021). Cosmopolitan Brands: graduate students navigating the social space of elite global universities. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 42(5-6), 701-716. https://doi.org/10.1080/01425692.2021.1941763

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jun 7, 2021
Online Publication Date Jun 30, 2021
Publication Date Jan 1, 2021
Deposit Date Feb 1, 2022
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal British Journal of Sociology of Education
Print ISSN 0142-5692
Electronic ISSN 1465-3346
Publisher Routledge
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 42
Issue 5-6
Pages 701-716
Series ISSN 0142-5692
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/01425692.2021.1941763
Keywords Cosmopolitan Elite University Brand Bourdieu "Graduate Student"
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5748956
Publisher URL https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01425692.2021.1941763

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