OPERA Data Bank

The empirical data in our paper are taken from the OPERA research program (Operationalizing Programmatic Elites Research in America 1988-2010). This study, conducted by William Genieys, was funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR) from 2008 to 2012 (OPERA: ANR-08-BLAN-0032).

The survey concerns the transformation of the highest levels of power structure of the US in warfare and welfare. We carried out 399 biographies and more or less 200 interviews. The survey covered more than 3,000 actors in the highest positions of power. To define our field of study with these two huge sectors of public action, we focused on the highest positions of power among decision-makers in the process of two reforms: the expansion of welfare (Clinton-Obama) and the rise of warfare (D. Rumsfeld).

The aim of the survey is to identify, over a long period of time, changes in the composition of elites, which is part of the policy decision-making process, and then to try to determine their real influence on decision-making and reforms.

The listings have been compiled using congressional directories from the Lexis Nexis database:

(i): from the legislative area: the staffers have been selected from the warfare and welfare committees

(ii): from the executive area: cabinet members working on defense and health public policies, the secretaries up to 5 hierarchy degrees underneath, agency directors and General military staff.

Our survey aims to collect biographies from various databases available on: institutional websites (White House, DOD, DHHS, CONGRESS), Who's Who in America?, Leadership Library, First Street, Revolving Doors, Source Watch, Wikipedia, Legistorm, LinkedIn, and other websites.