Theories of power

Elite Theory of Power

Characteristics of Political Elites

Political elites are special people who hold most of the power in society. Their features are:

They are few in number.

They are well-organised.

Anyone can enter the elite group if they have talent (open entry).

They have maximum control over political power.

Different elite groups compete with each other.

They are aware of their own interests.

There is no complete dictatorship; power keeps changing.

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Pareto’s Circulation of Elites

Made by Vilfredo Pareto, Italian sociologist.

Book: The Mind and Society (1916).

His famous line: “History of mankind will be written in the graveyard of aristocracy.”

Main Idea

Society always has some elites (powerful people).

These elites have qualities like intelligence, wealth, status.

But after some time, they become lazy, corrupt or weak.

A new group from lower levels of society rises up.

These new people have talent, skill, ambition → they challenge old elites.

Slowly, they replace the old elite.

After some time, these new elites also become weak, and again another group replaces them.

This cycle continues forever.

How circulation happens

Through competition, social mobility, revolutions, economic changes, or social movements.

Importance

Shows that power is never stable.

Old elites fall, new elites rise.

But critics say this theory ignores institutions and economy, which also affect power.

Governing and Non governing elites

1. Governing Elites

They are the people who actually run the government.

Includes politicians, ministers, top bureaucrats.

They make laws, policies, and control administration.

They hold real political power.

2. Non-Governing Elites

They have power outside politics.

Includes rich businesspeople, industrialists, intellectuals, celebrities.

They influence society using their money, status, networks.

They cannot make laws, but they affect decisions indirectly.

Moscas theory of the ruling class

1. Circulation of Elites

Elites change over time, but there is always an elite class.

2. Iron Law of Oligarchy

In every organisation, a small group controls everything.

Even in democracy, power becomes concentrated.

3. Role of Force

Ruling elite uses force or police/military to keep control.

Criticism

Ignores democracy, social changes, and people’s movements.

Marxist theory of power

Made by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.

Explains society through class struggle.

Power comes from economic control.

Main Idea

Society is divided into two classes:

1. Haves (Dominant Class) → They own property and control resources.

2. Have-nots (Dependent Class) → They work hard, have no property, and

are exploited.

Means of social production

Things needed to produce goods:

Land, mines, forests

Buildings, machines, capital, la

bour

Class struggle

Dominant class (Haves) → exploit the workers.

Have-nots → fight against exploitation.

Marx says: “All history is the history of class strugg

le.”

Modern stage: capitalism

Today’s system is capitalism.

Owners (bourgeoisie) control:

Industries

Land

Factories

Money

Workers (proletariat) only have la

bour to sell.

Goal

Workers will eventually rise → end exploitation → create a classless society.