Elite Theory

1. Elite Theory • The Italians developed classical elite theory e.g. Pareto (1848-1923) in opposition to Marxist theory. • Pareto emphasised the importance of the psychological characteristics of elites which made them superior to the masses and enabled them to gain and hold power • Pareto saw measurable traits through psychological evidence of characteristic traits: • Lions achieve power through incisive action and the use of force • Foxes rule by cunning • Elites tend to circulate, with Lions being replaced by Foxes and Foxes being replaced by Lions and

2. Elite self-recruitment in the USA • C.Wright Mills in the 1950s in the USA argued there was a power elite, which had power through holding key positions or command posts in three institutions • Major corporations • The military • The federal government • The three elites were connected through intermarriage, movement of individuals between elites, a similar educational background and membership of the same prestige clubs. As a unified group they were able to exercise power over a divided and passive mass of the population.

3. Elite self-recruitment in the UK • In the UK studies have found high levels of elite self-recruitment i.e. most people recruited into elites tend to come from elite backgrounds themselves • Borthwick 1991, examined the educational backgrounds of Conservative MPs and found that in 1987 over half had been to public school and 44% to Oxbridge. • In the 1997 election, Labour MPs background was more varied, but even Labour included members form the business elite – Geoffrey Robinson and Lord Sainsbury

4. Critiqueof Elite Theory • Dahl argued that Mills’s ideas only showed that elites in the USA only had the potential to exercise their power in order to control things. Dahl agued Mills didn’t study decision making to see if they ever won issues (issue method) • Other pluralists say Mills’s ideas ignore the power of pressure group leaders (elite pluralism)

5. Critiqueof Elite Theory • Although top positions in the UK and USA are held by people from elite backgrounds, that alone does not prove they act for self interest as opposed to those of the masses. • Marxists argue that elite theory stresses positional power ignoring economic power. For example Marxists stress the ownership of the means of production rather than the occupation of senior positions in society.