1. Elite Theory
This theory contrasts to both pluralist and Marxist theories of power.
What would you guess Elite Theorists have to say about power?
In contrast to pluralists – power is concentrated in the hands of an elite.
In contrast to Marxists – this is inevitable and not something to fight against.

2. Italian theorists Pareto (1843 – 1923) and Mosca (1858 – 1911) developed classical elite theory, primarily to contradict Marxist theory.
Pareto claimed that history showed that true democracy simply isn’t possible – either in Western democracies or communist states.
He claimed that certain individuals and groups were superior to the masses and ought to lead them.
Pareto claimed there were two types of leaders:
- Lions
- Foxes
He also claimed history showed us a process of ‘circulation of elites’
Guess what he meant by these three terms then check in the 'Elite Theory' section. 2

3. Mosca – also a Classical Elite Theorist
Similarities to Pareto
Mannheim's Views

4. Evaluating Classical Elite Theory
Look at these facts and decide how they can be used to evaluate the ideas of Pareto and Mosca:
Societies such as USSR, North Korea and China which have based themselves on the ideas of Marx, have been seen by their critics as undemocratic societies run by political elites.
The Brahmin caste in India has ruled for centuries, as has the educated literati class in China.
Some theorists have spoken of ‘legitimation crisis’ and others of a ‘participation crisis’ in Western democracies.
Anarchists claim that there have been ultra-democratic societies that have existed without leadership e.g. parts of Spain during the Spanish Revolution/Civil War and some primitive societies.

5. 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.
How do C.Wright Mills' views differed from Pareto and Mosca? 5

6. 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 MP’s backgrounds were more varied, but even Labour included members form the business elite – Geoffrey Robinson and Lord Sainsbury 6

7. Critique of 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).

8. Critique of 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. 8