ELLITE THEORY
Elite theory views society as being divided between the majority of people and a small ruling
minority, with political power – the ability to make and enforce decisions for everyone – always
resting with the elite. The goal of elite theorists is to provide an explanation for the fact that, in
every society, most of the resources (economic, intellectual, and cultural) are controlled by a
small group of individuals who use them to maintain power over the larger population.
Originally developed by Italian scholars in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, elite theory
gained significance in political science after World War II, addressing the key question of "who
governs" beyond formal or constitutional structures.
Elite theory suggests that all forms of government are essentially oligarchies, where a small
group of people use various values and principles to justify their power and manipulate the
consent of the governed. While studies on this idea began in the early 20th century, it became
more prominent in the second half of the century with the rise of empirical research in sociology
and political science. To better understand the term "elite," it is important to distinguish between
two meanings. The first comes from the Latin word *eligere*, which is used in a positive sense.
The spread of the positive connotation of "elite" is mainly due to the work of Vilfredo Pareto,
who used the term "aristocrazia" (aristocracy) to refer to the "best" individuals. However,
Gaetano Mosca disagreed with this view, preferring the term "ruling class" as it avoided the
idealization of the ruling group, which often did not deserve such praise. The second, more
common use of the term refers neutrally to any group at the top of a social or political hierarchy.
In this sense, every institution, organization, or association has its own elite.
The first development of elite theory occurred between the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Although elitism wasn't a new concept, earlier thinkers like Saint-Simon, Comte, Tocqueville,
and Taine discussed the idea of a managerial or elite class to explain political and societal
changes. However, it was the Italian school, including Gaetano Mosca, Vilfredo Pareto, and
Roberto Michels (the "Machiavellian school"), that expanded on the idea by not only
acknowledging the unequal distribution of political power but also examining who holds power,
how it is exercised, and how it shifts from one group to another.
Gaetano Mosca introduced the concept of the "political class" in his works, starting with
Theoretics of Governments and Parliamentary Government in 1884. He believed that the
political class derives its power from organization, and that a small, organized minority governs
over the disorganized majority. Mosca argued that every society is divided between a small
ruling group and the majority, and that this power dynamic can be maintained through
organization and common interests within the elite. His approach was empirical, focusing on
real-world observations rather than ideology, and he sought to understand how political power is
structured and how it [Link] the same time, Vilfredo Pareto also explored the role of elites,
particularly in wealth, power, and intellect. He argued that individuals are positioned differently
in various social, political, and intellectual hierarchies, and that the top individuals, the elite, are
marked by exceptional qualities. Pareto observed that elites in power and wealth tend to merge
and replace each other over time, highlighting the circulation of elites, as described in his
*Trattato di Sociologia Generale* (1916). His work emphasized that aristocracies do not last
indefinitely and that elites constantly shift, combining and replacing one another.
According to elite theory, the public is often disengaged and poorly informed about policy
issues, with elites influencing public opinion on policy matters more than the public influences
elite views. As a result, public policy is essentially determined by the preferences of elites, while
public officials and administrators implement the policies that have already been decided by
these elites.
Michels, like Mosca, emphasized the importance of organization, but with a different
perspective. For Mosca, organization was a tool that helped form the political class, while
Michels argued that organization itself inevitably leads to the emergence of an oligarchy. He
believed that within any organized group, power becomes concentrated in the hands of a small
elite, while the majority of members are left to accept the decisions made by the ruling few.
Michels’ work provided empirical and historical support for elite theory, solidifying its influence
and success.
Public policy can also be seen as reflecting the preferences and values of a governing elite.
While it is commonly claimed that public policy mirrors the will of "the people," this may be
more of a myth than a reflection of the true nature of American democracy. According to elite
theory, the public is often disengaged and poorly informed about policy issues, with elites
influencing public opinion on policy matters more than the public influences elite views. As a
result, public policy is essentially determined by the preferences of elites, while public officials
and administrators implement the policies that have already been decided by these elites.
