An
assignment
on
“Elite Theory”
Submitted Submitted
By To
(Syed Fahim Abrar ) Md. Obaidul Haque
Roll No – 1723003. Lecturer
Reg-1642 Department of
Department of Political Science
Political Science Islamic University,Kushtia.
Islamic University, Kushtia.
Introduction : Elite consist of those successful persons who
rise top in every occupation .Elite theory was first introduced by
Karl Marx who was a famous philosopher and thinker of
political science . He divided the people of the society into two
bigger classes one is rulling classs and another is being ruled
class.
Meaning : The term elite has derived from a French word that
means choice .Elite means chosen few.
Definition : Different scholars has defined elite some of them is
given below.
C . W . Mills said that, “ Elite are those who hold the leading
position in the strategic heirarechies ”.
Pareto said that, “ Every society has two parties one is powerful
and another is powerless .The powerful party is elite”.
►Classification of elite : Generally elites are classified into
two groups viz.
►1.Ruling elite.
►2.Non-ruling elite.
►1.Ruling elite : Those who have ruling power in the society
they are called ruling elite they are also called political
elite.
►2.Non-ruling elite: Those who have no ruling power in the
society they are called non-ruling elite.
►Pareto divided the elite theory into two categories viz.
►1.Governing elite.
►2.Non-governing elite.
►1.Governing elite : Governing elite consisting of those
persons or individuals who directly and indirectly
concerned with the administration .They play high role in
the society.
►2.Non-governing elite : Non-Governing elite consisting of
those persons or indiviuals who are not concerned with
the administration system.
►Theory of Pareto, Mosca and Michels : Mosca , Pareto and
Michels has described the elite theory, their views on elite
theory are given below.
►Perato : Perato hold opinion that” every society has
two parties one is powerful and another is
powerless .The powerful party is elite”.He seemed
that elites hold position on the basis on some
qualities .He named those qualities as ‘residues’.
Residues are those qualities owing to which one can
come top of the society. He said about six residues.
►Viz.
►1.Presistence of aggregates.
►2.Sociability
►3.Activity.
►4.Integrity.
►5.sex.
►6.Instinct of combinations.
►Of these Pareto gave more importance to the first and
last.He seemed that there are two kinds of elites,one rule
by force and the second rule by cunningness this is very
close to the idea of Mechiavelli . Who gave opinion of rule
of the ‘Lion’ and ‘fox’.
►Moska:like Perato Moska also said about two groups of
people one group rule and another being ruled .The first
group of people are are always less numerous and they
control and exercise all political power.And the second
group is always numerous and directed or controlled by
the first group.It is very difficult for the majority to revolt
against the majority.he believed in the circulation of elite
theory after a session the rulers lose their power and new
group comes to rule.The old elite can be ruled by the
newer one.
►Robert Michels:Michel says that every structure of
modern organized society gives birth of the elite rule.his
name is associated with what is known as “Iron law of
oligarchy”.The primary factor of supporting this law is the
element of organization. In modern time no movement
can success without organization.In every organization the
leader holds all the power.And the position of ledership
gives birth the position of elite.Once the leader hold the
power than nothing can bring him down.If laws are made
to control his domination,it is laws which gradually
weaken and not the leaders.
►Conclusion:In the end we can say that, elites are the
powerful party of society.They hold the power on the basis
on their own efficiency but it is not necessary that elites
will hold power on the basis on their own efficiency some
times it is the situation which makes elite.In past there was
presence of elite in present we can realize the presence of
elite and in future elites will last long.We can’t ignore the
elite theory for its sufficient role in the society.
►Sources:Political Theory by KK Mishra.
►The Ruling Class
by Gaetano Mosca
►Political Parties
by Robert Michels
►The Machiavellians: Defenders of Freedom by James
Burnham
