12 Facts About Elite theory

In political science and sociology, elite theory is a theory of the State that seeks to describe and explain power relationships in contemporary society.

The theory posits that a small minority, consisting of members of the economic elite and policy-planning networks, holds the most power—and that this power is independent of democratic elections.

Basic characteristics of this theory are that power is concentrated, the elites are unified, the non-elites are diverse and powerless, elites' interests are unified due to common backgrounds and positions and the defining characteristic of power is institutional position.

Elite theory opposes pluralism, a tradition that emphasized how multiple major social groups and interests have an influence upon and various forms of representation within more powerful sets of rulers, contributing to decently representative political outcomes that reflect the collective needs of society.

Elite theory posited with great confidence that all 3 originating forms of sources of political power: one man, few men, many would eventually be corrupted into a debased form of itself, if not balanced in a "mixed government".

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Elite theory extended the idea that a whole elite can be replaced by a new one and how one can circulate from being elite to non-elite.

Elite theory said elites are an organized minority and that the masses are an unorganized majority.

Elite theory believed that all organizations were elitist and that elites have three basic principles that help in the bureaucratic structure of political organization:.

Elite theory says the "notion that the pressure system is automatically representative of the whole community is a myth" and, instead, the "system is skewed, loaded and unbalanced in favor of a fraction of a minority".

Elite theory identified a triumvirate of power groups—political, economic and military—which form a distinguishable, although not unified, power-wielding body in the United States.

Elite theory posited a structural-functional approach that mapped hierarchies and webs of interconnection within the city—mapping relationships of power between businessmen, politicians, clergy etc.

Elite theory asserts, much like Hunter, that an elite class that owns and manages large income-producing properties dominate the American power structure politically and economically.