Why Were Victorian Elites So Effective?
4 hours ago
- Victorian elites prioritized soft skills, networking, and community over intense academic rigor or STEM education.
- Their education focused on classics, sports, and character formation, with minimal classroom time and emphasis on self-governance.
- Adults maintained a social lifestyle with late mornings, long dinners, and nightly parties, blending work and leisure.
- This tight-knit elite community (Gemeinschaft) fostered unity, reducing internal conflicts like those in other nations.
- Despite appearing indolent, they successfully managed Britain's empire and politics through loyalty and prestige-driven incentives.
- The article suggests that alternative approaches to ruling, centered on social cohesion and soft skills, can be effective.