Distinction, cohesion and the social networks of Australia’s elite suburbs

Abstract

ABSTRACTUnderstanding the role of elite neighbourhoods in the rise of national and global inequalities is an emerging agenda in urban studies. In this paper I focus on neighbourhoods’ role in the production of elite social networks, as a form of social capital. Focusing on three of Australia’s most affluent neighbourhoods – Mosman (Sydney), Toorak (Melbourne) and Cottesloe (Perth) – the study used a mixed method approach, including a survey of over 1,000 residents, and follow up in depth interviews with forty-six of them. The paper presents descriptive statistics on the occupational status of members in residents’ social networks. Further qualitative analysis is presented to explain the role of neighbourhood institutions and everyday practices – including neighbourly relations, random encounters, and participation in schools and sports clubs – in the formation of these social networks. The findings demonstrate that more than merely fortified playgrounds for conspicuous consumption, elite neighbourhoods are important sites of capital accumulation.