Theory of Power - Elitism
Para Key Points Key Points
1 - What do Elite Theory: Criticise Marxists + pluralists - fail to Mosca - organisational ability + Pareto - intelligence,
they say? recognise power -concentrated hands of small number. cunning, ambition - 'strength of lion, cunning of the
Rule by people, democratic diffusion of power = fox' - control states.
impossible -capitalist + communist societies. Circulation of elites, one elite replaces them over time.
Argue power inevitably concentrated - hands of few = Pareto - exists "organised minority - special talents,
oligarchy. skills, abilities fitted to rule over disorganised
Composition political elites - western societies - minority."
dominated by wealthy middle class, middle aged men, Mosca - "all societies two classes of people appear - a
public school + university educated. class that rules + class that is ruled."
Self-conscious, coherent, conspiratorial numerically small Former numerically smaller + performs all political
group. functions + monopolies power.
Psychological Elite Theory - Mosca + Pareto (late 19th Latter - directed + controlled by former.
century, early 20th century). Elite - cohesive + unified - common background -
Italian theorists - psychological differences in humans - shared interests + separated from masses through
inevitable those superior qualities. culture, manners, education + status differences.
2 - What do Bureaucratic Elite Theory - Robert Michels - studied Bureaucracy - essential -individuals effectively voice
they say? power modern organisations rather than society. wishes + interests.
Society - dominated by bureaucratic procedures. Formal organisations goes against possibility direct
Developed 'iron law of oligarchy' - bureaucratic expertise democracy.
+ ability control + direct bureaucratic procedures come Practical terms - not everyone can be involved.
from elite. "The oligarchical structure of building suffocates basic
"Whoever organisation says oligarchy" - true in capitalist democratic principle."
+ socialist societies.
3- What do Technocratic Elite Theory- society dominated by News International – millions of sales + Murdoch
they say? technology, create + control technology inevitably actively involved editorial policy.
become elite e.g. Bill Gates. Strong right wing views + owns newspapers 3
Power behind + beyond political structures. continents.
Exists elite media producers, computer analysts + Investment in BskyB satellite TV etc.
programmers, news editors. State inevitably controlled by elite + democracy =
Control of information + knowledge - have power, impossible.
making non-politicians insignificant + irrelevant. Best – rule enlightened elite, use power to benefit all
News editors - 'gatekeepers' + issues we think about - e.g. Obamacare.
ideological power. People’s Republic of China – accuracy of elite theory.
Expansion – telecommunications – = ‘digital democracy’ - Ownership of production means – communal,
recording HR abuses Libya. Communist Party controls means of production +
Takes politicians away -traditional confines of parliament become elite, if not a ruling class.
+ assemblies to private + secure home. 7 members of Standing Committee Politburo.
Technocrats – Rupert Murdoch – opportunity to This – society ideologically committed to democracy +
politically influence public by passing elected politicians. equality.
4 - Critique of Observers – no important differences major political Elections – illusion that power rests with majority.
Democracy parties – West. Foster myth that masses are participating in political
Elite theory - major differences not expected since process.
politicians, no matter political persuasion are members of Create impression that elite represents the peoples
ruling elite. interests.
Dye + Zeigler - elections are to divert + pacify masses. Meaning rule is justified + legitimated.
Excitement + razzmatazz (esp. America) serves as Roman Dye + Zeigler – ‘elections primarily symbolic exercise
circus to entertain + distract mass of pop. from true helps tie masses to established order’.
nature of elite rule.
5- Elite Theory Mills – analysis to American society 1950’s. Elite rule – exploitation of masses + isn’t desirable.
+ USA- Does not believe elite rule is inevitable, sees it as a Adopts conflict version – elites + masses = different
C.Wright Mills: recent development. interests, thus potential conflict.
6 - The Power Mills rejected view members of elite – superior Tanks, guns + missiles pour from factories – interests of
Elite: qualities/psychological characteristics – distinguish them economic + military elites – served.
from the rest. Political leaders = ‘lieutenants; of economic elite +
Structure of institutions – those at top of institutional decisions systemically favour giant corporations.
hierarchy monopolize power. Power elite – all major national + international
Certain institutions – ‘pivotal positions’ in society + elite importance.
comprise those in ‘command posts’. Suggest business, military + politics trend towards
Major corporations, military + federal gov. Occupy centralisation of decision making power, concentrated
command posts – form 3 elites. hands of command posts.
Interests + activities of elites – similar + interconnected – Cohesiveness + united strengthened by social
form single ruling majority termed ‘power elite’. background + interchange/overlapping personnel.
Claimed ‘American capitalism is now in considerable part Frequent interchange of personnel.
military capitalism.
Para Key Points Key Points
1 - What do Elite Theory: Criticise Marxists + pluralists - fail to Mosca - organisational ability + Pareto - intelligence,
they say? recognise power -concentrated hands of small number. cunning, ambition - 'strength of lion, cunning of the
Rule by people, democratic diffusion of power = fox' - control states.
impossible -capitalist + communist societies. Circulation of elites, one elite replaces them over time.
Argue power inevitably concentrated - hands of few = Pareto - exists "organised minority - special talents,
oligarchy. skills, abilities fitted to rule over disorganised
Composition political elites - western societies - minority."
dominated by wealthy middle class, middle aged men, Mosca - "all societies two classes of people appear - a
public school + university educated. class that rules + class that is ruled."
Self-conscious, coherent, conspiratorial numerically small Former numerically smaller + performs all political
group. functions + monopolies power.
Psychological Elite Theory - Mosca + Pareto (late 19th Latter - directed + controlled by former.
century, early 20th century). Elite - cohesive + unified - common background -
Italian theorists - psychological differences in humans - shared interests + separated from masses through
inevitable those superior qualities. culture, manners, education + status differences.
2 - What do Bureaucratic Elite Theory - Robert Michels - studied Bureaucracy - essential -individuals effectively voice
they say? power modern organisations rather than society. wishes + interests.
Society - dominated by bureaucratic procedures. Formal organisations goes against possibility direct
Developed 'iron law of oligarchy' - bureaucratic expertise democracy.
+ ability control + direct bureaucratic procedures come Practical terms - not everyone can be involved.
from elite. "The oligarchical structure of building suffocates basic
"Whoever organisation says oligarchy" - true in capitalist democratic principle."
+ socialist societies.
3- What do Technocratic Elite Theory- society dominated by News International – millions of sales + Murdoch
they say? technology, create + control technology inevitably actively involved editorial policy.
become elite e.g. Bill Gates. Strong right wing views + owns newspapers 3
Power behind + beyond political structures. continents.
Exists elite media producers, computer analysts + Investment in BskyB satellite TV etc.
programmers, news editors. State inevitably controlled by elite + democracy =
Control of information + knowledge - have power, impossible.
making non-politicians insignificant + irrelevant. Best – rule enlightened elite, use power to benefit all
News editors - 'gatekeepers' + issues we think about - e.g. Obamacare.
ideological power. People’s Republic of China – accuracy of elite theory.
Expansion – telecommunications – = ‘digital democracy’ - Ownership of production means – communal,
recording HR abuses Libya. Communist Party controls means of production +
Takes politicians away -traditional confines of parliament become elite, if not a ruling class.
+ assemblies to private + secure home. 7 members of Standing Committee Politburo.
Technocrats – Rupert Murdoch – opportunity to This – society ideologically committed to democracy +
politically influence public by passing elected politicians. equality.
4 - Critique of Observers – no important differences major political Elections – illusion that power rests with majority.
Democracy parties – West. Foster myth that masses are participating in political
Elite theory - major differences not expected since process.
politicians, no matter political persuasion are members of Create impression that elite represents the peoples
ruling elite. interests.
Dye + Zeigler - elections are to divert + pacify masses. Meaning rule is justified + legitimated.
Excitement + razzmatazz (esp. America) serves as Roman Dye + Zeigler – ‘elections primarily symbolic exercise
circus to entertain + distract mass of pop. from true helps tie masses to established order’.
nature of elite rule.
5- Elite Theory Mills – analysis to American society 1950’s. Elite rule – exploitation of masses + isn’t desirable.
+ USA- Does not believe elite rule is inevitable, sees it as a Adopts conflict version – elites + masses = different
C.Wright Mills: recent development. interests, thus potential conflict.
6 - The Power Mills rejected view members of elite – superior Tanks, guns + missiles pour from factories – interests of
Elite: qualities/psychological characteristics – distinguish them economic + military elites – served.
from the rest. Political leaders = ‘lieutenants; of economic elite +
Structure of institutions – those at top of institutional decisions systemically favour giant corporations.
hierarchy monopolize power. Power elite – all major national + international
Certain institutions – ‘pivotal positions’ in society + elite importance.
comprise those in ‘command posts’. Suggest business, military + politics trend towards
Major corporations, military + federal gov. Occupy centralisation of decision making power, concentrated
command posts – form 3 elites. hands of command posts.
Interests + activities of elites – similar + interconnected – Cohesiveness + united strengthened by social
form single ruling majority termed ‘power elite’. background + interchange/overlapping personnel.
Claimed ‘American capitalism is now in considerable part Frequent interchange of personnel.
military capitalism.
