The Elite Charade Of Changing The World – An Inside Look By Anand Giridharadas

The elite often speaks about giving back to their communities, or changing the world for the better. But writer Anand Giridharadas argues that, despite their efforts, it is not working.

In his new book, Winners Take All, he argues that affluent elites are playing a double game, with entrepreneurs, tech innovators, and wealthy foundations seeking to fight social injustice, but only to the extent that the system which allowed them to become rich and powerful, and to have influence remains intact.

Take the issue of empowering women. "Things like maternity leave and universal day care and various other social policies to actually give women and families the opportunity to play all their roles seem to be what it takes," he explains in another interview in NPR. But the problem is that elites tend to favor other, more focalized, feel-good programs that may actually have less impact.  

In this conversation with Vox's Ezra Klein, Giridharadas offers a distinct view on the topic of his writing. He tells his story on how he was allowed into that world, what he saw there, and how his insights came to inform his critical view.