Philanthropy and the sustaining of global elite university domination

How is it that global elite universities operating in a hyper-competitive world replete with aspirational challengers maintain positions of dominance within the field higher education decade after decade? Taking Bourdieusian approach, we argue highest-ranking strategically leverage pronounced philanthropic advantages to differentiate themselves from would-be challengers. Philanthropy critical differentiator because enables sustain privileges attract highly qualified students, faculty and powerful supporters, who turn boost their competitive through acquisition valuable cultural, social symbolic resources. Elite co-create stakeholders strong bonds identification, honing disposition give back philanthropically complete socially reproductive cycle domination. At time increasing concern about inequalities, our contribution uncover how philanthropy – an essentially conservative force operates entrench privilege magnify differences while purporting do opposite.