Elite theory political science. Elite (elitist) theory: A Glossary of Political Economy Terms 2023-01-05
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Elite theory is a perspective in political science that suggests that a small group of individuals, known as elites, hold a disproportionate amount of power and influence over political decisions and policy outcomes. According to this theory, these elites, who may include politicians, business leaders, and other influential figures, shape public opinion and policy through their control of key institutions, such as the media, the government, and the economy.
Elite theory has its roots in the work of sociologists such as Vilfredo Pareto and Gaetano Mosca, who argued that elites are a natural and inevitable feature of any society. According to these scholars, elites arise as a result of the unequal distribution of resources, skills, and opportunities within a society, and they use their positions of power and influence to maintain their status and protect their own interests.
One key aspect of elite theory is the idea that elites are self-perpetuating, meaning that they work to maintain their power and influence over time by passing it down to future generations through nepotism and other forms of social and economic advantage. This can create a cycle of inequality, as those who are born into elite families are more likely to have access to the resources and opportunities that allow them to maintain their status, while those who are not may struggle to gain a foothold in the elite.
Critics of elite theory argue that it oversimplifies the complex and nuanced relationships that exist within society, and that it fails to take into account the role of other factors, such as class, race, and gender, in shaping political outcomes. They also argue that it can be used to justify or excuse the concentration of power and wealth in the hands of a few, rather than promoting greater equality and democracy.
Despite these criticisms, elite theory remains a significant and influential perspective in political science, and it continues to shape our understanding of the ways in which power and influence are exercised in society. While it is important to recognize the role of elites in shaping political outcomes, it is also crucial to recognize that other factors, such as popular movements, grassroots organizing, and social and political change, can also play a role in shaping the direction of a society.
7 Theorists of Political Elites and their Approaches
Ambedkar, Subhas Chandra Bose and Vallabhbhai Patel steered the new nation in a direction that ensured it wasn t destroyed by sectarianism, casteism and authoritarianism. Of these Pareto attaches the greatest importance to the first and the last. The elite gives political education to the masses and they set certain model standards in the society. Because of this control, the elite manage to get preferential treatment in the society and is able to prevent the rest of others to enjoy the same position in the society. C Write Mills: C. This power of the elite is sustained because of the carelessness, apathy, ineptitude, and political neutrality of the masses. Buildings, streets, cities, schools, and monuments are named in their honor.
[PDF Notes] Elite Theory and Democratic System of Political Science 2023
Gasset evolved the theory of the masses. He takes only the importance of the control of means of production from Marx but where Marx vests it in the hands of the labour class, he vests it in the hands of an elite. Elites are more concerned about their personal interests than the interests of the whole community: Supporters of the elite theory wrongly lead us to believe that the elites look to the interests of the whole community. In his own words, The fate of an elite is profoundly affected by the ways it manipulates the environment. Consequently, the theory of political elite stands on the principle of natural inequality and is opposed to the liberal democratic state. Later on Yaetano Moxa, Pareto, Michels, James Burnham, Dwight Waldo, C.
Gasset evolved the theory of the masses. The larger the political community, he adds later, the smaller will be the proportion of the governing minority to be governed by, and the more difficult it will be for the majority to organize for a reaction against the minority. Associations of all kinds, professional as well as political, are formed and the government becomes a business of compromises. Translated by Ian Scott-Kilvert 1979. Wright Mills both continued this tradition and drew directly on Veblen in his discussion of status struggles.
The distinguishing characteristic of the elite being the aptitude to command and to exercise political control, once the ruling class loses this aptitude and the people outside the ruling class cultivate it in large numbers, there is every possibility that the old ruling class will be replaced by the new one. Elites and Society 2nd ed. Pareto says that there are two kinds of elites, one ruling force; the second ruling by cunningness. Oligarchy is a government by the few privileged and the Aristocracy is a government by the few best but with the Elite there is no grandeur of aristocracy and no desire for self-perpetuation and selfishness as we found in Oligarchy. Michels, who are more difficult to systematize, since they are rooted in the essence of human nature, in the essence of the political struggle. Golden Rule: The Investment Theory of Party Competition and the Logic of Money-Driven Political Systems.
Elite elitist theory The theoretical view held by many social scientists which holds that American politics is best understood through the generalization that nearly all political power is held by a relatively small and wealthy group of people sharing similar values and interests and mostly coming from relatively similar privileged backgrounds. Among modem theorists, C. This forms the central principle of eliticism. This formation is more complicated. To quote his own words.
According to him there m every civilised community an artistic, a sporting, scientific elite, and also a relatively small group of persons who dominate the political and economic forces of the country. He laid special emphasis on the history-making decisions by the power elite. Veblen, by contrast, analyzed society in terms of the conflicting interests of different social groups, and he also denounced passionately much of the existing order. Mosca describes three ways in which the political class consolidates power and renews itself: inheritance, elections, co-optation. ADVERTISEMENTS: It is obvious that the theory of elites Rule of the few is opposed to democracy because democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people. However, Kari Mannheim 1893-1947 , who in his earlier writings had connected elite theories with fascism and anti-intellectualism, played an important role in advocating this reconciliation. Pareto 1848-1923 and his circulation Theory: Pareto held the opinion that in every society there are people who possess in a marked degree the qualities of intelligence, character, skill, capacity, of whatever kind.
Wealth and political position cannot be proportionate The supporters of the elite theory wrongly hold the belief that wealthy persons may rise 3. However, Kari Mannheim 1893-1947 , who in his earlier writings had connected elite theories with fascism and anti-intellectualism, played an important role in advocating this reconciliation. Such chosen few generally exist in trade-Unions, bureaucracy, armed forces, and almost everywhere. He has given six kinds of residues: i Persistence of aggregates, ADVERTISEMENTS: vi Instinct of combinations. In fact, they never look to the interests of the whole community. The elites consist of those successful persons who rise to the top in every occupation and Stratum of society there is an elite of lawyers, an elite of mechanics, and even an elite of thieves and an elite of prostitutes.
Elite Theory and Democratic System of Political Science
But he gives preference to that society, which is characterized by a certain balance between these tendencies. Elitist theoreticians differ somewhat among themselves on such questions as how open the power elite is to "new blood," the exact degree of agreement or disagreement that usually prevails within its ranks, and the degree of genuine concern or lack thereof for the broader public welfare that enters into their choices of public policy goals, but all such theorists broadly share the notion that it is these few thousand "movers and shakers" who really run the country and determine the basic directions of public policy, certainly not the manipulated and powerless masses of ordinary voters choosing among candidates at election time. Of the first 12 U. He says the "notion that the pressure system is automatically representative of the whole community is a myth" and, instead, the "system is skewed, loaded and unbalanced in favor of a fraction of a minority". What is another word for populist? ELITE THEORY Elite theory of the policy process The theory posits that a small minority, consisting of members of the economic elite and policy planning networks, holds the most power—and this power is independent of democratic elections.
Elite Theory: A Contemporary Alternative of Conflict Theory
Due to the technical knowledge, the control ultimately passes into the hands of the bureaucracy and other leading politicians of the party. Like Pareto, Mosca also believed in the theory of the circulation of elite. Top down Policy making, argues that U. Role of Political Elites. The role of the writers, artists, social workers, and scientists is even more important than the bureaucrats and politicians. In times of crisis, the people look to the elite to show them the way.
