Power elite
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A Power Elite, in political and sociological theory, is a small group of people who control a disproportionate amount of wealth, privilege, and access to decision-making of global consequence. The term was coined by C. Wright Mills in his 1956 book, The Power Elite. The Power Elite (1956) describes the relationship between political, military, and economic elite (people at the pinnacles of these three institutions), noting that these people share a common world view, 1) the "military metaphysic"- a military definition of reality, possess 2) "class identity"- recognizing themselves separate and superior to the rest of society, have 3) interchangibility: i.e. the move within and between the three institutional structures and hold interlocking directorates 4) cooptation/socialization: of prospective new members is done based on how well they "clone" themselves socially after such elite. Further these elite in the "big three" institutional orders have an "uneasy" alliance based upon their "community of interests" driven by the military metaphysic, which has transformed the economy into a 'permanent war economy'. For a summary video of the power elite model see http://elite.asadi.org
The American Power elite has been referenced by socialist Cold War intelligentsia beginning with such issues as Opposition to the Vietnam War, a backlash to anti-communism. In critical work, the US Power elite consists of members of the Business/Corporate Community, Academia, politicians, media editors, military service personnel, and high-profile journalists. From here on a general form of consensus building and homogenesing of elite members' views is eventually achieved.
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[edit] Academics who have written on the Power Elite:
- Charles Wright Mills: Sociologists, referenced in 1956 [1970] The Power Elite. New York: Oxford University Press.
- G. William Domhoff: Sociologist
- Noam Chomsky: On a more general geopolitical view
- Alex Jones: conspiracy theorist and radio host
[edit] Power Elite Groups
[edit] Further reading and related links:
- Charles Wright Mills on the Power Elite "The Higher Circles"
- G. William Domhoff, as mentioned in Colgate University extract on Who's Who in America- An excerpt from State Autonomy or Class Dominance?: Case Studies On Policy Making In America, Publisher: Aldine De Gruyter, New York, 1996
- Further hardcopy references can be found in the monographThe Power Elite and the State: How Policy is Made in America 1990 pub. Aldine De Gruyer, NY
- Interview Article by Chip Berlet - September 2004, Public Eye.Org- Domhoff on the American Ruling Class
- NY Books G. William Domhoff: "IS THERE A RULING CLASS?" In response to What Rules America? (May 1, 1975)
- Foreign Affairs (FA): the official publication of CFR, usually this publication anticipates US foreign policy changes
FA's Grand Strategy in the Second Term John Lewis Gaddis
- Foreign Affairs, January/February 2005 comments on Bush's second term policy
[edit] See also
- Trilateral Commission
- Council on Foreign Relations
- David Rockefeller
- Military Keynesianism
- Military-Industrial Complex
- War economy
- Revolving door system
- Corporate power
- Corporate interlocks
- Iron triangle
- Monopoly capitalism
- Imperialism
- Pax Americana
- Political spectrum
- PNAC
- Armaments Industry
- Frank C. Carlucci
- The Carlyle Group
- Oligarchy
- Plutocracy
- Alfred Milner
- Milner's Kindergarten
- British Empire
- Cecil Rhodes
- The Round Table Journal (Round Table Groups)
