Are all politicians the same? Reproduction and change of chief executive career patterns in democratic regimes

The scholarship on political careers and recruitment has increasingly focused the conditions that foster emergence of new elites. However, top politicians in democratic regimes often share socio-economic backgrounds occupy similar positions before entering office. Career patterns politics are relatively stable tend to reproduce themselves over time; this leads persistence core background traits among members elite. lack profile renewal seems at odds with claim theory, which asserts competition is open, inclusive, expansive. Despite its relevance, causal mechanisms behind career patterns’ stability elites have received little systematic attention. This article contributes fill gap, by focusing chief executives. First, it clarifies concepts for study careers. Second, proposes an understanding formation executives’ as functions path-dependent institutional effects. Third, work uses theory investigate characteristics all US presidents, from George Washington (1789) Joe Biden (2021). analysis literature elite stability, circulation, democracy.