An Analysis of Political Elitism Essay - 2879 Words

An Analysis of Political Elitism It is easy to believe that the middle-class working individual, whether he or she be white collar or blue collar, wields little political power except for during an election. It is also easy to think that we don’t have true democracy; political representation elected by the people, for the people, and controlled by these people. This is an ideology that is often worn out. Instead, these elected representatives are controlled by political à ©lites: high-ranking political gladiators, the media, lobbyists, and, though it may not seem evident, big business. It is, in essence, commonly believed by most. Some reasons why political à ©lites at times dominate government and who these groups are will be examined in†¦show more content†¦From a sociological point of view, elitism deals with class structures. Marx describes these class structures and what makes certain individuals High Class or important. The separation of ownership from the management and control of industry ( Penguin Books, 1994, p.58). Marxists see political à ©lites as bad guys - theoretically, it is because they represent a small portion of the population and are believed to control most of the political power and money. However, Plato’s Republic offers a different standpoint. In his work, political à ©lites are seen as good guys - wise, virtuous, and knowledgeable. It is difficult to define elitism, however. The above definition, first and foremost, deals with financial status. What’s more, Plato’s opinions and definitions of elites are blatantly out of date. Though political à ©lites are predominately high-class and wealthy, it does not explain interest groups and lobbyists. The men and women in these groups are, on the whole, not particularly rich or important. What makes them truly important or powerful is that they alter public opinion (The media works in the same way, however this will be discussed later). The idea that elites shape public opinion applies to all elites as well. Not to mention the fact that the majority of Canadians have negative attitudes toward political elites. As a common sense definition we see the actual people who are elites as fat cats: Rich, privileged, with no concern for theShow MoreRelatedSocial Policy is a Pluralistic Process.973 Words   |  4 Pagesexistence of part competition (i.e. political parties such as Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem, Green), the existence of many ethical values (moral pluralism), or a variety of cultural norms (cultural pluralism or multiculturalism). It indicates that diversity is healthy and desirable, usually because it protects individual freedom and promotes debate, argument and understanding. The more narrow definition of pluralism is that it is a theory of the distribution of political power. 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