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Professor Mike Savage

Professor Mike Savage

Emeriti

Department of Sociology

Email
m.a.savage@lse.ac.uk
Room No
CBG.4.03 (International Inequalities Institute)
Languages
English
Key Expertise
Social Stratification, Inequality, Class

About me

Mike Savage joined the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2012 and was Martin White Professor of Sociology before retiring from the Department in 2024. He is now Professorial Research Fellow at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳’s International Inequalities Institute, from where he retains active collaboration with the Department of Sociology. Mike was Head of Department between 2013 and 2016. Between 2015 and 2020, he was Director of ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳’s International Inequalities Institute, which hosts the , the largest global programme in the world devoted to challenging inequalities.

Mike has long standing interests in analysing social stratification and inequality. He has played a major role in the revival of the sociology of social class in recent decades so that it has become once more a central plank of the discipline. He is one of the major sociologists to embrace the growing awareness of intensified economic inequality in recent decades to draw out the broader systemic social challenges these have produced. He promotes the need for academic research to be co-produced with campaigning organisations, is committed to a public facing vision of sociology.   

Mike Savage, Social Class Mike Savage, Identities and social change in Britain since 1940  Mike Savage, Culture, class, distinction 

Selected publications

Books

Savage, Mike and Friedman, Sam (2015)  Penguin Books, London, UK. ISBN 9780241004227

Savage, Mike (2010)  Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. ISBN 9780199587650

Bennett, Tony, Savage, Mike, Bortolaia Silva, Elizabeth, Warde, Alan, Gayo-Cal, Modesto and Wright, David (2008)  CRESC. Routledge, London, UK. ISBN 9780415422420

Articles

Branson, Nicola, Hjellbrekke, Johs, Leibbrandt, Murray, Ranchhod, Vimal, Savage, Mike and Whitelaw, Emma (2024)  British Journal of Sociology. ISSN 0007-1315

Savage, Mike (2024)  British Journal of Sociology, 75 (3). 360 - 365. ISSN 0007-1315

Savage, Mike and Vaughan, Michael (2024)  Javnost - the Public, 31 (1). 176 - 192. ISSN 1318-3222

Prieur, Annick, Savage, Mike and Flemmen, Magne (2023)  British Journal of Sociology, 74 (3). pp. 360-375. ISSN 0007-1315

Hecht, Katharina, Savage, Mike and Summers, Kate (2022)  ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Public Policy Review, 2 (4). ISSN 2633-4046

Savage, Mike (2022)  Twentieth Century British History, 33 (3). pp. 416-431. ISSN 0955-2359

Savage, Mike and Waitkus, Nora (2022)  British Journal of Sociology, 72 (1). 39 - 51. ISSN 0007-1315

Savage, Mike and Li, Chunling (2021)  Journal of Chinese Sociology, 8 (1). ISSN 2198-2635

Koch, Insa, Fransham, Mark, Cant, Sarah, Ebrey, Jill, Glucksberg, Luna and Savage, Mike (2021)  Sociology, 55 (1). 3 - 29. ISSN 0038-0385

Savage, Mike (2021)  International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 45 (1). 150 - 153. ISSN 0309-1317

Paidipaty, Poornima and Savage, Mike (2021)  British Journal of Sociology, 72 (1). 3 - 7. ISSN 0007-1315

Savage, Mike and Meersohn Schmidt, Cynthia (2020)  Journal of Chinese Sociology, 7 (1). ISSN 2198-2635

Upton-Hansen, Chris, Kolbe, Kristina and Savage, Mike (2020)  Cultural Sociology. ISSN 1749-9755

Mijs, Jonathan J.B and Savage, Mike (2020)  Political Quarterly, 91 (2). 397 - 404. ISSN 0032-3179

Cant, Sarah, Savage, Mike and Chatterjee, Anwesa (2020)  Sociology, 54 (1). pp. 37-52. ISSN 0038-0385

Simson, Rebecca and Savage, Mike (2020)  Third World Quarterly, 41 (1). 20 - 41. ISSN 0143-6597

Savage, Mike (2019)  British Journal of Sociology, 71 (1). 19 - 27. ISSN 0007-1315

Savage, Mike and Flemmen, Magne (2019)  Cultural and Social History, 16 (1). pp. 85-101. ISSN 1478-0038

Hanquinet, Laurie and Savage, Mike (2018)  European Journal of Cultural and Political Sociology, 5 (4). 423 - 454. ISSN 2325-4823

Savage, Mike, Hanquinet, Laurie, Cunningham, Niall and Hjellbrekke, Johs (2018)  International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 42 (1). pp. 138-149. ISSN 0309-1317

Hey, Ana Paula, Grimaldi-Christensen, Anna and Savage, Mike (2017)  Tempo Social, 29 (3). pp. 161-179. ISSN 1809-4554

Halford, Susan and Savage, Mike (2017)  Sociology, 51 (6). pp. 1132-1148. ISSN 0038-0385

Dodd, Nigel, Lamont, Michèle and Savage, Mike (2017)  British Journal of Sociology, 68 (S1). S3-S10. ISSN 0007-1315

Flemmen, Magne and Savage, Mike (2017)  British Journal of Sociology, 68 (S1). S233-S264. ISSN 0007-1315

Savage, Mike (2017)  Actes de la Recherche En Sciences Sociales, 2017/4 (219). pp. 42-55. ISSN 0335-5322

Nichols, Georgia and Savage, Mike (2017)  Theory, Culture & Society, 34 (5-6). pp. 201-225. ISSN 0263-2764

Cunningham, Niall and Savage, Mike (2017)  City: Analysis of Urban Trends, Culture, Theory, Policy, Action, 21 (1). pp. 25-46. ISSN 1470-3629

Savage, Mike (2016)  Nature, 537 (7621). pp. 475-479. ISSN 0028-0836

Savage, Mike (2016)  Tempo Social, 28 (2). pp. 57-72. ISSN 1809-4554

Hall, Suzanne M. and Savage, Mike (2016)  International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 40 (1). 82 - 95. ISSN 0309-1317

Friedman, Sam, Savage, Mike, Hanquinet, Laurie and Miles, Andre (2015)  Poetics, 53. pp. 1-8. ISSN 0304-422X

Olcese, Cristiana and Savage, Mike (2015)  British Journal of Sociology, 66 (4). pp. 720-737. ISSN 0007-1315

Savage, Mike, Devine, Fiona, Cunningham, Niall, Friedman, Sam, Laurison, Daniel, Miles, Andrew, Snee, Helene and Taylor, Mark (2015)  Sociology, 49 (6). pp. 1011-1030. ISSN 0038-0385

Wakeling, Paul and Savage, Mike (2015)  Sociological Review, 63 (2). pp. 290-320. ISSN 0038-0261

Savage, Mike (2015)  Sociological Review, 63 (2). pp. 223-239. ISSN 0038-0261

Cunningham, Niall and Savage, Mike (2015)  Sociological Review, 63 (2). pp. 321-348. ISSN 0038-0261

Savage, Mike (2014)  British Journal of Sociology, 65 (4). pp. 591-606. ISSN 0007-1315

Hanquinet, Laurie, Roose, Henk and Savage, Mike (2014)  Sociology, 48 (1). pp. 111-132. ISSN 0038-0385

Savage, Mike (2013)  Theory, Culture & Society, 30 (4). 3 - 21. ISSN 0263-2764

Savage, Mike and Silva, E. B. (2013)  Cultural Sociology, 7 (2). pp. 111-126. ISSN 1749-9755

Meuleman, R. and Savage, Mike (2013)  Cultural Sociology, 7 (2). pp. 230-256. ISSN 1749-9755

Prieur, Annick and Savage, Mike (2013)  European Societies, 15 (2). pp. 246-267. ISSN 1461-6696

Savage, Mike, Devine, Fiona, Cunningham, Niall, Taylor, Mark, Li, Yaojun, Hjellbrekke, Johs., Le Roux, Brigitte, Friedman, Sam and Miles, Andrew (2013)  Sociology, 47 (2). pp. 219-250. ISSN 0038-0385

Ruppert, Evelyn S., Law, John and Savage, Mike (2013)  Theory, Culture & Society, 30 (4). pp. 22-46. ISSN 0263-2764

Miles, Andrew and Savage, Mike (2012)  Cultural and Social History, 9 (4). pp. 595-612. ISSN 1478-0038

Hanquinet, Laurie and Savage, Mike (2012)  Museum and Society, 10 (1). pp. 42-59. ISSN 1479-8360

Hanquinet, Laurie, Savage, Mike and Callier, Louise (2012)  Urban Geography, 33 (4). pp. 508-529. ISSN 0272-3638

Miles, Andrew, Savage, Mike and Bühlmann, Felix (2011)  British Journal of Sociology, 62 (3). pp. 418-441. ISSN 0007-1315

Branson, Nicola, Hjellbrekke, Johs, Leibbrandt, Murray, Ranchhod, Vimal, Savage, Mike and Whitelaw, Emma (2024)  British Journal of Sociology. ISSN 0007-1315

Savage, Mike (2024)  British Journal of Sociology, 75 (3). 360 - 365. ISSN 0007-1315

Savage, Mike and Vaughan, Michael (2024)  Javnost - the Public, 31 (1). 176 - 192. ISSN 1318-3222

Prieur, Annick, Savage, Mike and Flemmen, Magne (2023)  British Journal of Sociology, 74 (3). pp. 360-375. ISSN 0007-1315

Hecht, Katharina, Savage, Mike and Summers, Kate (2022)  ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Public Policy Review, 2 (4). ISSN 2633-4046

Savage, Mike (2022)  Twentieth Century British History, 33 (3). pp. 416-431. ISSN 0955-2359

Savage, Mike and Waitkus, Nora (2022)  British Journal of Sociology, 72 (1). 39 - 51. ISSN 0007-1315

Savage, Mike and Li, Chunling (2021)  Journal of Chinese Sociology, 8 (1). ISSN 2198-2635

Koch, Insa, Fransham, Mark, Cant, Sarah, Ebrey, Jill, Glucksberg, Luna and Savage, Mike (2021)  Sociology, 55 (1). 3 - 29. ISSN 0038-0385

Savage, Mike (2021)  International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 45 (1). 150 - 153. ISSN 0309-1317

Paidipaty, Poornima and Savage, Mike (2021)  British Journal of Sociology, 72 (1). 3 - 7. ISSN 0007-1315

Savage, Mike and Meersohn Schmidt, Cynthia (2020)  Journal of Chinese Sociology, 7 (1). ISSN 2198-2635

Upton-Hansen, Chris, Kolbe, Kristina and Savage, Mike (2020)  Cultural Sociology. ISSN 1749-9755

Mijs, Jonathan J.B and Savage, Mike (2020)  Political Quarterly, 91 (2). 397 - 404. ISSN 0032-3179

Cant, Sarah, Savage, Mike and Chatterjee, Anwesa (2020)  Sociology, 54 (1). pp. 37-52. ISSN 0038-0385

Simson, Rebecca and Savage, Mike (2020)  Third World Quarterly, 41 (1). 20 - 41. ISSN 0143-6597

Savage, Mike (2019)  British Journal of Sociology, 71 (1). 19 - 27. ISSN 0007-1315

Savage, Mike and Flemmen, Magne (2019)  Cultural and Social History, 16 (1). pp. 85-101. ISSN 1478-0038

Hanquinet, Laurie and Savage, Mike (2018)  European Journal of Cultural and Political Sociology, 5 (4). 423 - 454. ISSN 2325-4823

Savage, Mike, Hanquinet, Laurie, Cunningham, Niall and Hjellbrekke, Johs (2018)  International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 42 (1). pp. 138-149. ISSN 0309-1317

Hey, Ana Paula, Grimaldi-Christensen, Anna and Savage, Mike (2017)  Tempo Social, 29 (3). pp. 161-179. ISSN 1809-4554

Halford, Susan and Savage, Mike (2017)  Sociology, 51 (6). pp. 1132-1148. ISSN 0038-0385

Dodd, Nigel, Lamont, Michèle and Savage, Mike (2017)  British Journal of Sociology, 68 (S1). S3-S10. ISSN 0007-1315

Flemmen, Magne and Savage, Mike (2017)  British Journal of Sociology, 68 (S1). S233-S264. ISSN 0007-1315

Savage, Mike (2017)  Actes de la Recherche En Sciences Sociales, 2017/4 (219). pp. 42-55. ISSN 0335-5322

Nichols, Georgia and Savage, Mike (2017)  Theory, Culture & Society, 34 (5-6). pp. 201-225. ISSN 0263-2764

Cunningham, Niall and Savage, Mike (2017)  City: Analysis of Urban Trends, Culture, Theory, Policy, Action, 21 (1). pp. 25-46. ISSN 1470-3629

Savage, Mike (2016)  Nature, 537 (7621). pp. 475-479. ISSN 0028-0836

Savage, Mike (2016)  Tempo Social, 28 (2). pp. 57-72. ISSN 1809-4554

Hall, Suzanne M. and Savage, Mike (2016)  International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 40 (1). 82 - 95. ISSN 0309-1317

Friedman, Sam, Savage, Mike, Hanquinet, Laurie and Miles, Andre (2015)  Poetics, 53. pp. 1-8. ISSN 0304-422X

Olcese, Cristiana and Savage, Mike (2015)  British Journal of Sociology, 66 (4). pp. 720-737. ISSN 0007-1315

Savage, Mike, Devine, Fiona, Cunningham, Niall, Friedman, Sam, Laurison, Daniel, Miles, Andrew, Snee, Helene and Taylor, Mark (2015)  Sociology, 49 (6). pp. 1011-1030. ISSN 0038-0385

Wakeling, Paul and Savage, Mike (2015)  Sociological Review, 63 (2). pp. 290-320. ISSN 0038-0261

Savage, Mike (2015)  Sociological Review, 63 (2). pp. 223-239. ISSN 0038-0261

Cunningham, Niall and Savage, Mike (2015)  Sociological Review, 63 (2). pp. 321-348. ISSN 0038-0261

Savage, Mike (2014)  British Journal of Sociology, 65 (4). pp. 591-606. ISSN 0007-1315

Hanquinet, Laurie, Roose, Henk and Savage, Mike (2014)  Sociology, 48 (1). pp. 111-132. ISSN 0038-0385

Savage, Mike (2013)  Theory, Culture & Society, 30 (4). 3 - 21. ISSN 0263-2764

Savage, Mike and Silva, E. B. (2013)  Cultural Sociology, 7 (2). pp. 111-126. ISSN 1749-9755

Meuleman, R. and Savage, Mike (2013)  Cultural Sociology, 7 (2). pp. 230-256. ISSN 1749-9755

Prieur, Annick and Savage, Mike (2013)  European Societies, 15 (2). pp. 246-267. ISSN 1461-6696

Savage, Mike, Devine, Fiona, Cunningham, Niall, Taylor, Mark, Li, Yaojun, Hjellbrekke, Johs., Le Roux, Brigitte, Friedman, Sam and Miles, Andrew (2013)  Sociology, 47 (2). pp. 219-250. ISSN 0038-0385

Ruppert, Evelyn S., Law, John and Savage, Mike (2013)  Theory, Culture & Society, 30 (4). pp. 22-46. ISSN 0263-2764

Miles, Andrew and Savage, Mike (2012)  Cultural and Social History, 9 (4). pp. 595-612. ISSN 1478-0038

Hanquinet, Laurie and Savage, Mike (2012)  Museum and Society, 10 (1). pp. 42-59. ISSN 1479-8360

Hanquinet, Laurie, Savage, Mike and Callier, Louise (2012)  Urban Geography, 33 (4). pp. 508-529. ISSN 0272-3638

Miles, Andrew, Savage, Mike and Bühlmann, Felix (2011)  British Journal of Sociology, 62 (3). pp. 418-441. ISSN 0007-1315

 

 

Research

Mike’s work fundamentally addresses the analysis of long-term social change. Drawing on a strong historical sensitivity (indebted to his initial training in history, he is sceptical of ‘hyperbolic’ or ‘presentist’ sociology, such as claims that we have moved into some kind of new ‘epoch’ of social life. His book   (2010) argues that we need to place our understanding of the contemporary in the context of detailed historical research. Recently he has focused on how wealth accumulation is a key driver of social change, an argument he has elaborated in his book (2021).

This perspective has led him to be a leader in the revival of the sociology of elites, where he investigates how increasing elite power and prominence is a fundamental force that is reshaping social inequalities, including older class relationships. He is currently editing a definitive Handbook on the Sociology of Global Elites with Annette Lareau and Maria-Luisa Mendez.

This interest in understanding how intensified economic inequalities are transforming class inequality underpinned Mike’s leadership of the BBC’s Great British Class Survey, which spawned one of the most popular piece of digital sociology ever (with 9 million hits on the BBC’s ‘class calculator’). His book  which argues that older models of class which focused on the divide between middle and working class have been eclipsed by an elite class pulling away at the top, and greater fragmentation in the middle levels of the social structure, has been a bestseller.

A further element of Mike’s interest in wealth inequality is concerned with excavating the importance of the racial wealth divide, where he is conducting collaborative research in the UK and South Africa. Mike explores how intense wealth inequalities between differing racialised groups can be traced back to older imperial forms of domination and extraction, and he is now working on a collaborative book to draw out these themes.

A key aspect of Mike’s work is relating structural aspects of inequality with understanding how they are experienced. This leads him to long term engagements with the writings of Pierre Bourdieu, the most sophisticated sociologist to have addressed this issue. With Tony Bennett, Elizabeth Silva and Alan Warde directed the most comprehensive study of cultural capital and taste ever conducted in the UK, which was published in 2008 as . This has attracted considerable international interest and influenced numerous studies on the cultural aspects of inequality. In  (2000) he has written about the ‘paradox of class’: that as economic inequality intensifies, so popular awareness of class seems to wane. He is fascinated by the challenge posed by the ‘cultural turn’ in sociology and remain attracted to elements of Pierre Bourdieu’s sociology as a means of making sense of these paradoxical situations.

Mike has long standing interests in recognising the significance of spatiality and temporality in social science. He sees this as vital in championing context based sociology which resists abstraction. He has long standing interests in urban sociology, including his book  (with Gaynor Bagnall and Brian Longhurst, 2005) which emphasised how globalisation might be congruent with increasing localised attachments. His text book  (with Alan Warde and Kevin Ward, 2003) has been a best seller.

Mike sees rigorous research methods as fundamental to sociological inquiry and is especially interested in using innovative and mixed methods. He has applied sequencing methods, social network analysis, and multiple correspondence analysis in his work. His paper with Roger Burrows proclaiming ‘The coming crisis of empirical sociology’ in 2007 provoked huge interest through its claim that sociology could no longer rely on its tried and trusted repertoire of sample surveys and qualitative interviews in an increasingly digitalised world – but in fact he is also an inveterate user of such methods. He has recently been working with Jane Elliott, Carrie Friese, and an international collaborative team to develop large scale qualitative research initiatives.

Mike has an outstanding track record in supporting the discipline. Between 1993 and 2016 he was on the Editorial Board of The Sociological Review, where he was editor between 2001 and 2007, and as Chair of the Editorial Board between 2011 and 2016 oversaw its transition into a fully recognised charity. He was a member of the Sociology research evaluation exercises (RAE 2008 and REF 2013) and a trustee of the British Sociological Association (2017-19). He collaborates extensively with civil society and campaigning organisations, and was a trustee of the Young Foundation (2017-20).

Teaching and PhD supervision

Mike set up the MSc Inequalities and Social Science programme in 2015 in association with colleagues at the International Inequalities Institute. He has a record as an outstanding doctoral supervisor and mentor, having supervised over 40 doctoral students to completion during his career at Keele, Manchester, York and ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. On his retirement in 2024 he no longer actively teaches in the Department.  

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