Does democracy really live up to this norm? Can in fact everyone belong to an elite? To answer this question the author would like to present and critically examine three elite theories that differ in content and time. He is not only concerned with access to the elites, i.e. how they recruit themselves, but in the overall context with how a group of influential and powerful people emerges and how they maintain themselves. His argument is that he believes that access to an elite can be understood much better by examining how they emerge and try to maintain their position in society. The question of social access to the elites, therefore, is always a question of how they emerged and how they are maintained. But the main focus will ultimately be on the question of the access of individuals to elites. In this work he will therefore identify the social factors that determine the emergence of, the access to and the maintenance of elites.
Everyone has heard the term “elite” before. But very few know what it means or who exactly it refers to. Defined by the Cambridge Dictionary, the "elite" are "those people or organizations that are considered the best or most powerful compared to others of a similar type". But what makes them "the best" or "most powerful"and how do they get into this privileged position? In our democratic society, it is assumed that education, performance and success are decisive for advancing one to an elite position. Allegedly, anyone can ascend to a privileged elite position. Open access to the elites is one of the central norms of a representative democracy.
The author will therefore start with a small historical and theoretical background to the term "elites"itself, since it is often unclear what is meant by elites. Indeed, the term can be used in different ways and with different meanings, as we will see. This is followed by Mosca’s classical elite theory. Unfortunately, due to the limited scope of the work, he has to cut back on the classics of elite theories. However, in terms of the content of Mosca’s theory to the other classics, such as Pareto and Michels, they hardly differ.
...
Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION
2 HISTORICAL AND THEORETICAL BACKGROUND OF THE TERM “ELITES”
3 CLASSIC ELITE THEORY BY MOSCA
3.1 ORGANIZED AND SUPERIOR MINORITY
3.2 MONOPOLIZATION EFFORTS OF THE RULING CLASS
4 FUNCTIONAL ELITE THEORIES
4.1 SOCIAL OPENNESS AND PLURALISM
4.2 SELECTION ACCORDING TO PERFORMANCE
4.3 STRATEGIC ELITES
4.4 CONCLUSION AND COMPARISON OF FUNCTIONAL ELITE THEORIES
5 CRITICAL ELITE THEORIES
5.1 THE POWER ELITE
5.2 SOCIAL COHESION IN THE UPPER CLASS
5.3 REPRODUCTION OF THE RULING CLASS
5.4 CONCLUSION AND COMPARISON OF CRITICAL ELITE THEORIES
6 CONCLUSION
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This work critically examines different sociological elite theories to identify the social factors that determine the emergence of, access to, and maintenance of elites in modern democratic societies, challenging the assumption that such positions are solely based on individual performance.
- Historical and theoretical evolution of the "elite" concept.
- Classical elite theory versus functionalist and critical approaches.
- The role of social origin, networks, and cultural capital in elite recruitment.
- Mechanisms of elite reproduction and social cohesion in upper classes.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Organized and superior minority
In Mosca’s view, “the domination of an organized minority, obeying a single impulse, over the unorganized majority is inevitable” (Mosca, 2008, p. 270). A smaller group can logically organize itself much more easily than a larger group of people. Therefore, for organizational reasons alone, a minority has an elementary advantage over a majority or in Mosca’s words “a hundred men acting uniformly in concert, with a common understanding will triumph over a thousand men who are not in accord” (Mosca, 2008, p. 270). So, the ability to organize oneself well is a crucial aspect in taking on the role of a ruling class in Mosca’s theory, and the smaller the group, the more successful it is. We see already here that a “common understanding” and a consensus of values are important for the social cohesion of a ruling class. Moreover, the more united an organization is, the better it functions.
Mosca also sees another advantage in the “ruling minority”. According to him, the ruling minority mostly consist of individuals, who are distinguished from the mass of the ruled “by qualities that give them a certain material, intellectual, or even moral superiority” (ibid.). It is also interesting that he mentions the heirs of persons who possessed these qualities as belonging to the ruling class (ibid.). The members of the ruling class regularly have real or apparent characteristics that are highly valued and that have a great influence on their society (ibid.). Mosca comes to the conclusion that the “intellectual” superiority of the ruling minority does not lie in the biological inheritance of certain characteristics, but – entirely in keeping with Bourdieu and Mills – in their upbringing, the family transmission of behavior and attitudes, as well as other environmental influences. More than anything else, traditions and milieu influences determine the strength, weakness and mediocrity of such qualities in every larger group of people (Mosca, 1950, p. 63).
Summary of Chapters
1 INTRODUCTION: Outlines the scope of the work and introduces the central research question regarding the social factors governing elite access.
2 HISTORICAL AND THEORETICAL BACKGROUND OF THE TERM “ELITES”: Provides a historical overview of the term "elite" and its sociological development at the turn of the 19th to the 20th century.
3 CLASSIC ELITE THEORY BY MOSCA: Analyzes Mosca’s theory of the "ruling class" and the inherent advantages of organized minorities in society.
4 FUNCTIONAL ELITE THEORIES: Discusses post-war theories that view elites as functional, performance-based groups essential for democratic stability.
5 CRITICAL ELITE THEORIES: Examines counter-theories by Mills and Bourdieu that highlight the role of social background, capital, and exclusive reproduction mechanisms.
6 CONCLUSION: Synthesizes findings to argue that social origin remains the most decisive factor for access to elite positions.
Keywords
Elite, Ruling Class, Power Elite, Functional Elite Theory, Social Origin, Meritocracy, Social Cohesion, Cultural Capital, Reproduction, Habitus, Mosca, Mills, Bourdieu, Social Inequality, Political Power.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this publication?
The work focuses on identifying the social factors that determine how individuals emerge into, access, and maintain positions of power and influence within modern democratic societies.
What are the primary theoretical themes covered?
It covers the historical background of elites, the classical theory of Mosca, functionalist perspectives on "performance elites," and critical elite theories emphasizing power structures and social reproduction.
What is the central research question?
The central question is which social factors—beyond individual performance—truly determine access to elite positions in contemporary society.
Which scientific methodologies are utilized?
The author uses a qualitative, analytical approach by comparing and contrasting classic, functional, and critical sociological theories of elites.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body examines organizational advantages of minorities, the role of education and capital (economic/cultural), and the influence of social networks and class-specific habitus.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include elite, ruling class, social reproduction, meritocracy, power elite, habitus, and social origin.
How does Mosca define the "ruling class"?
Mosca defines the ruling class as an organized minority that controls a country's political decision-making, possessing superior material, intellectual, or moral resources.
How do Mills and Bourdieu contribute to the critique of elite theories?
Mills highlights the "power elite" and interlocking directorates, while Bourdieu explains elite persistence through "cultural capital" and the "class-specific habitus," both showing that elite access is often closed to those without the right social background.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Daniel Wolf (Autor:in), 2020, From the Ruling Class to the Power Elite, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/984169
