Describe the power elite school of thought and discuss the criticisms of the elite view.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The ideal answer should include:
1. Supporters of the elite approach see society as dominated by unified and nonrepresentative leaders often called the power elite. This elite occupies the important decision-making positions in society while encouraging powerlessness below. Those in power do not represent the diversity in society, but instead look after their own interests and prevent dissenting views from surfacing.
2. Although critics of the elite view may agree that only a few people participate in politics, they argue that this minority of activists is much less unified than elite theory asserts. They point to political conflicts over taxes, the environment, overseas wars, and presidential elections as examples of how elites check and balance each other. These elites compete, and democracy consists of people choosing between them through the vote.
3. Some critics argue that the political ideals of democracy are probably in better, if fewer, hands than they would be under the control of an uninformed majority.
4. Some critics also argue that some supporters of the elite view are conspiracy theorists. Ideologues on both the far right and left blame vulnerable racial, religious, or economic groups for betraying democracy. The reasoning often becomes circular: American politics is governed by a secret conspiracy "covered up" by certain groups or people, which of course makes "proof" impossible.