Abstract
Based on a dialogue with a vast literature on latecomer countries, the article tests the general hypothesis that the presence of a modernizing elite willing to pursue the goal of industrialization and capable of forging political coalitions to sustain it is a necessary condition for the promotion of industrial development in those countries. We have two other related hypotheses: a) the presence of that elite is closely linked to the construction of efficient state institutions for the promotion of industrialization and b) the type of state created depends on the type of elite in question and the combination of type of elite and type of State generates distinct transition routes for industrialized societies. In order to test these hypotheses, we performed a fuzzyset analysis of thirteen cases: three negative cases (Zaire, Nigeria and the Philippines); five intermediary cases (India, Chile, Argentina, Mexico and Brazil) and five positive ones (Sweden, Norway, Korea, Taiwan and Japan). Our data points to the confirmation of the research hypotheses.
elites; late industrialization; State; comparison; QCA analysis