POLITICAL

ELITES BY POOJA DHAKAD

THIRD YEAR
POLITICAL SCIENCE(HONS 1)
ROLL NO. 317306
 ELITES
MEANING =
Elite word has come from “Elegene” Latin word
means selection by choice, but the meaning of
Elegene in English is leadership. Pareto says it
Governing Elite , Mosca says it ruling class
 CHARACTERSTICS :-
1. Minority high class
2. Majority is ineffective
3. Elected by the people
4. Interest of elite is different from the interest of
public
5. Special position
6. Elite is dynamic
PARETO
*Born on 15 July 1848, Died on 19
august 1923.
*Was an Italian engineer, sociologist,
economist, political scientist and
philosopher.
*Was responsible for popularising the
use of the term “elite”
FAMOUS WORK INCLUDE – “MIND AND SOCIETY”

* Proceeded with basic assumption – Biological differences

which result in inequalities in human beings

* Among every category, some known for – qualities of head

and heart for their capacity to initiate , execute and plan

* They are considered superior over others and dominate all

sections
 Pareto has given the concept of ‘residues’.These are , according to
him,
(a) Combination
(b) Persistence of preservation
(c) expressiveness
(d) sociability
(e) Integrity
(f) Sex
Pareto makes use of 1st two residues and lays down Doctrine of
innovation and consolidation
 Pareto mention about governing and non governing elites
Governing elite – actual power and position
Non governing elite – industrialists, financiers, religious leaders,
social reformers and thinkers

Pareto has also given the idea of “Circulation of

Elites”
‘History is the graveyard of Democracy’
* Born on – 9 January 1876

* Died on 3 may 1936

* German born Italian

sociologist who contributed to
elite theory
Well knowm work – “Political Parties”
Laid down his ‘IRON LAW OF OLIGARCHY’ affirming

Who Says Organisation, Says Oligarchy

Political leaders and elite – power comes to them because they take
interest in political affairs while masses show their carelessness to
political happenings
Two powerful weapons with elites

Flattery Oratory

(laws weaken and under control )

MOSCA
*Born on 1 April 1858 , died on 8
November 1941
*Italian political scientist, journalist
and public servant
*Credited with developing elite theory
and doctrine of political class
Famous work include “The Ruling Class”
Mosca uses term elite in sense of political elite or ruling class

Two classes of people appear -

1. A class that rules
2. A class that is ruled
* one class counts on the cooperation of another
* A political class has two strata :-
HIGHER and LOWER
* Lower – real ‘Bosses’

who direct party’s electoral campaign , grand electors, they

distribute tickets , launch canvassing campaigns
LASSWELL
*Born on 13 February 1902, died
on 18 December 1978

*was a leading American political

scientist and communications
theorist.
Lasswell divided society into 2 categories –
1. Masses
2. Political elites(who get values , real abilities and use with
tactics)

According to him ,society on the basis of power divided into 3

categories=
1. Most powerful(political bosses)
2. Less powerful(middle political hierarchy)
3. Least powerful(masses who have no voice)
Strength , popularity and weakness of political elite
can only be measured in terms of acceptance of
decisions taken by them

If not supported , new political elite group came into

existence.
THANK YOU