Power, Elites & Politics

Power

The potential of individuals or groups to carry out their will even over the opposition of others.

Elite Perspective of Power

An organized minority (elite) rules over an unorganized majority; focuses on institutional bases of power (Mills).

Class Perspective of Power

Focuses on the identity of ruling persons and the modes of production that create them (Marx; Domhoff).

Pluralist Perspective of Power

Denies that power is concentrated in one group; sees multiple bases of power representing interests of different, competing groups.

Mills' Power Elite

The top tier of national power consisting of three interlocking institutions: the modern corporation, the executive branch of the federal government, and the military establishment.

Interlocking Directorate

Implicit ties created between organizations when executives or directors of one hold positions in another; connects economic, political, and military institutions.

Domhoff's "Who Rules America?"

The corporate community, social upper class, and policy-planning infrastructure collectively rule; institutions are more powerful than individuals; class awareness connects them.

Dye's "Who's Running America?"

About 4,000 people in top positions of 12 critical sectors control over half the nation's industrial assets, banking assets, insurance assets, media, and key government positions.

Revolving Door

The movement of individuals between top positions in corporations, government, and military; e.g., Dick Cheney moving between Defense Department, Halliburton (oil), and Vice Presidency.

What Rich People Want (Page et al.)

Lower taxes, light-touch regulation, weak unions, unlimited campaign donations; less concerned about unemployment and more concerned about budget deficits than general public.

Who Donates to Political Candidates

Wealthy individuals, business leaders, corporations, and the ultra-rich; through direct contributions, Super PACs, 501(c) organizations (secret donations), and lobbying groups.

Wealthification of American Politics

The growing concentration of political money from the ultra-rich due to (1) growing concentration of income at the top and (2) waning power of campaign finance regulations.

Citizens United (2010)

Supreme Court decision removing limits on corporate and union spending for political activities as long as not directly coordinated with official campaigns.

Business Roundtable

Major business lobby organization composed of CEOs from 200 of the largest U.S. corporations; power based on corporate resources and executive prestige; direct access to Congress and President.

Indirect Mechanism

Capitalist class influences government policy through control of the economy, not direct control of government; business confidence links political fortunes to business investment decisions.

Civil Oligarchy (Winters)

Oligarchs (super-rich) depend on political institutions guided by law, not violence, to defend their property rights; use lawyers, accountants, and courts to protect wealth.

Oligarchy (Winters)

Rule by the few based on extreme concentration of wealth; power differential inherent in wealth; oligarchs focus on "wealth defense" to protect their assets from taxation or redistribution.

Treaty of Detroit (1950)

Labor contract between UAW and General Motors limiting workers' right to strike and preserving management control in exchange for generous wage and benefit concessions; became model for postwar labor relations.

Winner-Take-All Politics (Hacker & Pierson)

The argument that the primary cause of growing class inequalities is an unequal political system where organizations representing the wealthy have shifted policy to favor the rich.

Riesman's Veto Groups

Organized groups with special interests that do not have power to impose their agenda but can block policies they oppose; create a semiorganized stalemate that maintains the status quo.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

A group formed under campaign finance laws to raise and contribute money for political candidates.

Think Tanks vs. Policy Planning Groups

Think tanks (Heritage, Cato, AEI) are billionaire-funded organizations that back political campaigns, influence legislation, and spread political ideas to policymakers and voters; they differ from policy planning groups (Council on Foreign Relations, Business Council) which are created and financed by the corporate elite for broader policy formulation.