Federal agency of Education

ALL-RUSSIAN CORRESPONDENCE INSTITUTE OF FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC

TEST

In the discipline POLITICAL SCIENCE

Topic No. 14

"Political Elites"

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Chelyabinsk 2009

Introduction……………………………………………………………3

The concept " political elite"

1. Classical and modern concepts of political elites

   The concept of “political elite”…………………………………..4

   Classical concepts of political elites…………………..

Modern concepts of political elites…………………..

1. Typologies of elites and their recruitment systems

   Types of elites…………………………………………………………

Elite selection systems……………………………………………………………

Conclusion………………………………………………………….

List of references……………………………...

Introduction

The topic of this test is political elites. I chose this topic because it is relevant for our time, since it is the political elites who form the goals and prospects for the development of society. The idea that exists in the mass consciousness that in modern conditions broad sections of the population can exercise power functions and fully participate in the political process turns out to be an illusion. In practice, their participation is limited to elections, and real power is exercised by political elites. They make strategic decisions and use resources state power

for their implementation. In addition, political elites represent group interests in politics and create optimal conditions for their implementation and coordination. Thus, the political elite is a privileged group that occupies leadership positions in power structures and is directly involved in making the most important decisions related to the use of power.

The purpose of the test is to study and consider what determines the special role of the political elite in politics. Objectives of the test: to study the concept of “political elite”; consider classical and modern concepts of political elites, as well as the typology of elites and their recruitment systems; give comparative analysis

Soviet and modern Russian political elites.

The concept of "political elite".

The social division between those who exercise power and those in relation to whom it is exercised follows from the very essence of power relations. Power is asymmetrical. The division into the governed and the governing occurs under any form of government and under any regime. In democratic states, as in non-democratic ones, the real control of society is in the hands of an organized minority. However, in a democracy, a minority can come to power only through elections in accordance with the will of the majority and in competition with other voting minorities.

The organized minority, which directly exercises control and makes political decisions, is designated differently: the political elite, the ruling elite, the ruling elite, political class, ruling class, senior political leadership. The wealth of names is often applied to the same socio-political phenomenon - to an actual minority with political controlling power. In modern political science, the term “elite”, introduced by the Italian researcher V. Pareto, ultimately prevailed.

The concept of elite refers to a narrow and relatively closed circle of people with a fairly constant and limited number, with strong internal connections that have significant weight compared to their environment. The elite are the “chosen ones” of one or another sphere of social life. The elite implies exclusivity, special criteria for selection and participation in its functioning. In the social hierarchy, elites occupy the highest rung.

The political elite is an organized minority, a controlling group that is part of a class or social stratum and has real political power, the ability to influence all functions and political actions of a given society.

As representatives of a certain social base, the elites are focused on the effective protection of public interests and on creating the most favorable conditions for their implementation. Political elites unite around the main political value, which is power, “the use of politics”¹. Power for political elites is valuable in itself; the main thing here is to retain and increase power in all possible ways.

The political elite is distinguished by its special cohesion, common value orientations, socio-political and psychological homogeneity (homogeneity). Elites have a clearly defined group consciousness, a common will to action and consolidation. Socio-political homogeneity contributes to the preservation of sufficient unanimity and unity of action in the most difficult situation X. Thus, power is strengthened and its integrity and purposefulness are preserved. Psychological homogeneity makes it possible for extraordinary, competing people to maintain compatibility and not lead the situation to a battle of egos or personal splits in the leadership environment. Among individuals included in the political elite, spiritual needs, a range of opportunities, the level of social aspirations, and even human qualities are highly compatible.

Thus, the political elite is not a simple sum of specific individuals who, by chance, find themselves endowed with power, but a social group that is formed as a result of selection, and only those who meet certain requirements remain at the top.

¹ Political Science: Textbook. for universities / S. V. Reshetnikov, N. P. Denisyuk, M. F. Chudakov and others; Ed. S. V. Reshetnikova. 4th ed., stereotype. – Mn.: TetraSystems, 2004. – p. 288.

1.2 Classical theories elite

The concept of the elite, based on observation of real political behavior and interactions of political subjects, was created by theorists of the Italian school of political sociology: G. Mosca, V. Pareto and R. Michels.

Professor, member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Senator G. Mosca (1858 - 1941) formulated his theory of the elite in the works “Fundamentals of Political Science” (1896 - 1923) and “History of Political Doctrines” (1932).

The idea of ​​a “ruling class” was put forward by G. Mosca in the first of these works, in which he wrote: “In all societies, from the most moderately developed and barely reaching the beginnings of civilization to the enlightened and powerful, there are two classes of persons: the class of managers and the class managed. The first, always less numerous, carries out everything political functions, monopolizes power and enjoys its inherent advantages, while the second, more numerous, is controlled and regulated by the first in a more or less legal manner, or more or less arbitrarily and violently, and supplies it with ... the material means of support necessary for the viability of the political body"¹ . G. Mosca analyzed the “political class” using an organizational approach. Group cohesion and unanimity, characteristic of the social class, are ensured due to the presence of an organization and structure in the political class. The development of any society, regardless of the mode of social and political organization, is directed by the leading class. The ruling class itself is heterogeneous; it consists of two layers: a very small group of “higher authorities” and a much larger

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¹ Political science: textbook. for university students / R. T. Mukhaev. – 3rd ed., revised. and additional – M.: UNITY-DANA, 2008. – p. 125.

a large group of “middle managers”.

Access to the political class presupposes that an individual has special qualities and abilities. It is obvious that these qualities can change during the evolution of human society. Thus, in primitive societies, military prowess was highly valued. As civilization develops, wealth becomes the predominant quality. G. Mosca identified three qualities that open access to the political class - military valor, wealth, church rank, with which three forms of aristocracy are associated - military, financial and ecclesiastical.

However, the dominant criterion for selection into the political class is the ability to govern, which means knowledge of the national character, the mentality of the people and the actual experience of government. As a developing organism, the political class needs its own renewal - otherwise it will not be able to respond to the new challenges of the time. G. Mosca named three ways of such renewal: inheritance, choice and co-optation. He also noted two trends in the development of the ruling class: the desire to become hereditary rulers among some of its representatives

(aristocratic), and the desire to replace the previous, old layers of this elite is with others (democratic). Mosca gave preference to that type of society that is characterized by a certain balance between these two tendencies.

Depending on the transmission principle political power Mosca identified two types of political governance: the first is autocratic, in which power is transferred from top to bottom; the second is liberal, in which power is delegated from bottom to top. However, he believed that it was also possible to combine the two types of political organization in representative boards, where the highest official was elected by popular vote and then appointed the members of the government. It should be noted that the theory of the leading class of G. Mosca goes far beyond the scope of political problems proper, since, according to it, the entire history of human society is nothing more than a process consciously led by elites.

A pragmatic orientation is also characteristic of the works of V. Pareto (1848 - 1923). “The history of mankind,” he wrote, “is the history of a constant change of elites; some rise, others decline.” The theory of elites was outlined by V. Pareto in his “Treatise of General Sociology” (1916). In the context of the theory of elites, he tries to identify the factors and prerequisites for the dynamic equilibrium of society and the significance of political power and motives for political behavior in this process. It was V. Pareto who introduced the term “elite” into scientific use.

V. Pareto derived the justification for the role of the elite from the concept of social equilibrium, to which society as a system strives. The state of equilibrium is ensured by the interaction of sets of forces, which he called elements. They form four groups - economic, social, political and intellectual. The scientist paid special attention to the motivation of human activity. In his opinion, the motives of human activity and the engines of history are psychological stimuli, which he called “residues.”

Using a psychological approach in the analysis of society and politics, the scientist explained the diversity of social interests and statuses by the psychological inequality of individuals. “Human society is heterogeneous,” noted V. Pareto, “and individuals differ physically, morally and intellectually.” The collection of groups of “individuals who perform highly in any field is called the elite.”

The elite, according to V. Pareto, is divided into ruling and non-ruling (counter-elite). The ruling elite directly and effectively participates in governance and has the charismatic qualities of leaders. The counter-elite is a potential elite in terms of abilities and personal qualities, but is deprived of the ability to make political decisions.

V. Pareto distinguished two types of elites, successively replacing each other. The first type is “lions”, which are characterized by openness, decisiveness in management, and reliance on forceful, authoritarian methods of power. Leos are good for stable situations as they are extremely conservative. The second type is “foxes”, who rule through various means of manipulation, deception, and demagoguery. They more often resort to bribery and distribution of rewards rather than the threat of violence. “Foxes” prevail in conditions of instability and transition, when energetic, pragmatically minded and capable of transformation rulers are required.

Social changes in society are, according to V. Pareto, a consequence of the struggle and “circulation” of elites. V. Pareto was the author of the theory of the circulation of elites.

A different system of proving the inevitability of dividing society into a ruling minority and a passive majority was proposed by R. Michels (1876 - 1936), who became one of the ideologists of fascism and a friend of B. Mussolini. He tried to prove the impossibility of implementing the principles of democracy in Western countries due to the inherent properties of political organizations of these societies and “oligarchic tendencies” in mass political organizations - parties, trade unions. In his main work “Political Parties. An Essay on the Oligarchic Tendencies of Democracy" (1911), he analyzed the crisis of parliamentary democracy and substantiated the legitimacy of elitism.

Human society is heterogeneous; there are natural and social differences between people. These differences determine their unequal abilities for political participation in the life of society, influence on political and social processes, and management of them. The bearer of the most pronounced political and managerial qualities is the political elite.

In Soviet social science, the theory of elites was viewed for many years as pseudoscientific, anti-democratic and bourgeois-tendentious. The very term “elite” was replaced by arbitrary and amorphous synonyms: “those in power”, “influential layers of society”, “the cream of the nation”, etc.

What is " political elite"?

"Elite "translated from French means the best, selected, chosen.

The philosophers of Ancient Greece believed that the best people, specially designed for this purpose, should rule society. Plato and Aristotle opposed allowing the people to rule the state, considering democracy the worst form of government.

In their opinion, society should be ruled by philosophers, whose rational part of the soul is most developed. Aristotle wrote: “He who intends to occupy the highest positions must possess three qualities: first, to sympathize with existing state system, then, have great ability to perform the duties associated with the position; thirdly, to be distinguished by virtue and justice,” thereby giving the most general characteristics of the ruling elite.

Political elite- this is a relatively small social group that concentrates a significant amount of political power in its hands, ensuring integration, subordination and reflection in political attitudes of the interests of various sectors of society and creating a mechanism for the implementation of political plans.

In other words, The elite is the highest part of a social group, class, or political social organization.

Basics modern concepts elites are laid down in the works of Italian sociologists Gaetano Mosca (1858 - 1941) and Vilfremo Pareto (1848 - 1923) and German political scientist Robert Michels (1876 - 1936).

Mosca G. tried to prove the inevitable division of any society into two groups unequal in social status and role. In “Fundamentals of Political Science” (1896) he wrote: “In all societies, from the most moderately developed to modern advanced and powerful societies, there are two classes of persons: the class of managers and the class of the governed. The first, always smaller in number, carries out everything political functions, monopolizes power and enjoys its inherent advantages, while the second, more numerous, is controlled and regulated by the first and supplies the material means for the sustenance of the political body."

Mosca G. considered the dominance of a minority to be inevitable, for it is the dominance of an organized minority over an unorganized majority. V. Pareto derived the inevitability of dividing society into a governing elite and the controlled masses from the inequality of individual abilities of people, manifested in all spheres of social life. He first of all singled out the political, economic, military, and religious elite.

Along with the similarities in the initial positions of Pareto and Mosca, there are also differences in their concepts:

1. Pareto emphasized the replacement of one type of elite with another, and Mosca emphasized the gradual penetration of the “best” representatives of the masses into the elite.
2. Mosca absolutizes the action of the political factor, and Pareto explains the dynamics of elites rather psychologically; the elite rules because it propagates political mythology, rising above ordinary consciousness.
3. For Mosca, the elite is the political class. Pareto's understanding of the elite is broader, it is anthropological.

The essence of R. Michels' concept is that “democracy, in order to preserve itself and achieve a certain stability,” is forced to create an organization. And this is due to the identification of an elite - an active minority to whom the masses entrust their fate due to the impossibility of their direct control over a large organization. Leaders never cede their power to the “masses,” but only to other, new leaders. The need to manage an organization requires the creation of an apparatus, and power is concentrated in its hands.

Michels' followers believe that Lenin, having laid the organizational and ideological foundations of the RSDLP (b) in his work "What is to be done?", was guided by a narrow layer of professional revolutionaries - the future elite. Having come to power, the party reproduced its structure on a national scale: the so-called partyocracy began to govern society.

Characteristic features of the political elite are the following:

• this is a small, fairly independent social group;
• high social status;
• a significant amount of state and information power;
• direct participation in the exercise of power;
• organizational skills and talent.

Thus, under elite are understood:

1. Persons with top performance(effectiveness) in their field of activity (V. Pareto).
2. Charismatic personalities (M. Weber).
3. Individuals who have intellectual and moral superiority over the masses, regardless of their status.
4. The most politically active people are power-oriented; organized minority of society (G. Mosca).
5. People who occupy the highest positions in society due to their biological and genetic origins.
6. Persons who have a high position in society and thereby influence social progress(Dupré).
7. People who have received the greatest prestige and status in society (G. Lasswell).
8. Persons receiving material and intangible assets in the maximum amount.

Data real life and numerous studies confirm that the political elite is a reality of today’s (and probably tomorrow’s) stage of development of society and is determined by the action of the following main factors:

1. Psychological and social inequality of people, their unequal abilities, opportunities and desires to participate in politics.
2. The law of division of labor requires professional management.
3. The high importance of managerial work and its corresponding stimulation.
4. Wide range of uses management activities to obtain various kinds of social privileges.
5. The practical impossibility of exercising comprehensive control over political leaders.
6. Political passivity of the broad masses of the population.

The political elite has the following functions:

• study and analysis of the interests of various social groups;
• subordination of interests of various social communities;
• reflection of interests in political guidelines;
• development of political ideology (programs, doctrines, constitution, laws, etc.);
• creation of a mechanism for implementing political plans;
• appointment of personnel staff of governing bodies;
• creation and correction of institutions of the political system;
• nomination of political leaders.

Elitism modern society obvious. Any attempts to eliminate it led to the formation and dominance of despotic, ineffective elites, which ultimately harmed the entire people.

Apparently, the political elite can only be eliminated through general public self-government. However, at the current stage of development of human civilization, self-government of the people is more an attractive ideal than a reality.

Therefore in modern conditions What is of primary importance is not the fight against elitism, but the problems of forming an effective political elite useful to society - recruiting elites.

Political elite

test

1 The concept of “political elite”

It is known that any society is represented by managers and governed, that is, those who exercise political power in the country, and those in relation to whom this power is exercised. To characterize managers they use different concepts, but the most common is "elite".

The concept of “elite” comes from the Latin “elegize” (to convert) and the French “elite” (selected). In the literature you can find many different definitions of the elite, when there is a ruling part of society, a ruling stratum. If we summarize the various points of view, we can state that this concept denotes groups of people who have a high position in society, have prestige, power, wealth, and are active in political and other fields of activity.

IN this definition two should be emphasized important points. First: the concepts of “political elite” and ruling elite” include various groups directly or indirectly involved in power processes. This includes political, economic, military, ideological and other types of elites.

The second point: unlike all other groups that make up the ruling elite, the political elite is directly involved in the exercise of political power.

So, the political elite is a certain group, a layer of society, which concentrates state power in its hands and occupies command posts and controls society. These are mainly high-ranking professional politicians endowed with power functions and powers.

The political elite of modern states is represented by monarchs, presidents, vice-presidents, prime ministers, ministers, heads of legislative and executive bodies, deputies, members of the supreme court, state governors, heads of government agencies, territories, regions, the highest diplomatic corps, etc.

At one time in a row Western states(including in the USA, Great Britain, Germany) the active age of its members was 50-55 years old; from 60 to 80% have completed one or two higher education degrees educational institutions; the overwhelming majority are large owners.

Elites are inherent in all societies; their existence is determined by the following factors:

1. psychological and social inequality of people, their unequal abilities, opportunities and desire to participate in politics;

2. the law of division of labor, which requires professional employment in managerial work as a condition for its effectiveness;

3. the high social significance of managerial work and its appropriate stimulation;

4. wide opportunities for using management activities to obtain various kinds of social privileges. It is known that political and managerial work is directly related to the distribution of values ​​and resources;

5. the practical impossibility of exercising comprehensive control over political leaders;

6. political passivity of the broad masses of the population, the main vital interests which usually lie outside the sphere of politics.

All these and other factors determine the elitism of society. The political elite itself is internally differentiated. She shares:

1. to the ruling one, which directly possesses state power, i.e. - this is the political elite of power;

2. opposition (i.e. counter-elite), to the highest, which makes decisions that are significant for the entire state;

3. average, which acts as a barometer of public opinion (including about 5% of the population);

4. administrative - these are administrative employees (bureaucracy);

5. and also distinguish between political elites in parties, classes, etc. But the differentiation of political elites does not mean that they do not mutually influence and interact with each other.

The top political elite includes leading political leaders and those in high positions in the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government (the immediate environment of the president, prime minister, parliamentary spinnaker, heads of government bodies, leading political parties, political factions in parliament).

The average political elite is formed from a huge number of elected representatives officials: parliamentarians, senators, deputies, governors, mayors, leaders of various political parties and socio-political movements, leaders of constituencies.

The administrative elite (bureaucratic) is the highest stratum of civil servants (officials) who hold the highest positions in ministries, departments and other government bodies.

Thus, the elitism of modern society is a reality. Political elitism can only be eliminated through public self-government. However, at the current stage of development of human civilization, self-government of the people is more of an attractive ideal, a utopia, than a reality.

For a democratic state, the primary importance is not the fight against elitism, but the solution to the problem of forming the most qualified, effective and useful political elite for society, its timely qualitative renewal, preventing the tendency of alienation from the people and transformation into a closed dominant privileged caste. In other words, we are talking about the need to create appropriate institutions that would ensure the effectiveness of the political elite and its accountability to society.

The level of solution of this problem is largely characterized by the social representativeness of the elite, i.e. representation of various sectors of society, expression of their interests and opinions in the political elite. Such representation depends on many reasons. One of them is social origin and social affiliation. Strictly speaking, social affiliation is largely determined by belonging to the elite, since joining the elite usually means the acquisition of a new social and professional status and the loss of the old one.

Disproportionality in social characteristics The elite and population in modern states is quite large. For example, today in Western countries (even in Russia) university graduates are represented in the elite much more widely than other groups. This is due to the fairly high social status parents. In general, the disproportionality of representation of various strata in the political elite usually increases as the status of the position occupied increases. At the lower stages of the political and administrative pyramid, the lower strata of the population are represented much more widely than in the upper echelons of power.

The political elite is a large social group with a certain level of political influence and being the main source of leadership for the institutions of power of a particular state or society.

From the above it follows that the elite includes the most influential circles and groups of the economically and politically dominant class. These are people who have concentrated in their hands large material resources, technical and organizational means, means mass media. These are professional employees, politicians and ideologists, etc.

But the political elite is not just an arithmetic sum of rulers and potentates. This education is more complex. The point is not only that its members concentrate power in their hands by monopolizing the right to make decisions and determine goals, but it is, first of all, a special social group that is based on the deep internal connections of its members, politicians, ideologists, etc. They are united by common interests, which are associated with the possession of the levers of real power, the desire to maintain their monopoly on them, to prevent other groups from accessing them, to stabilize and strengthen the positions of the elite as such, and, consequently, the positions of each of its members.

To win an election, a candidate must gain access to voters. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to get around all the voters personally and have a “heart-to-heart talk” with each one. Therefore, in order to cut off candidates that are not needed by the elite, prices in the media (in the opinion of ordinary voters) are simply enormous. Therefore, voters are presented with a choice of candidates belonging to the elites or dependent on the elites.

Therefore, quite often victories are won by representatives of the authorities, in whose hands administrative, financial, and information resources are concentrated

2. FUNCTIONS OF THE POLITICAL ELITE AND ITS QUALITIES NECESSARY TO PERFORM THESE FUNCTIONS.

The social purpose of the political elite is reflected, first of all, in the functions that it performs. They are diverse, complex, and, of course, associated with greater responsibility. The latter circumstance makes us think about the question: on what are the functions of the political elite based and regulated? It would seem that the answer is simple: the content and boundaries of the functions performed by the political elite are determined by the country's constitution. This is what happens in countries with the legitimate existence of political power, where the political situation is characterized by stability. However, in real life, cases of discrepancies between constitutions and real power not very rare. This happens in at least two cases. Firstly, when the political situation in the country changes fundamentally (transition periods), but these changes are not yet reflected in the constitution. Secondly, deviations from the constitution are possible. For example, the Constitution of the USSR declared that power belonged to the soviets, but the real political picture did not confirm this.

The noted circumstances were important to take into account when studying the specific functions performed by the political elite. There are quite a lot of these functions. The most significant: strategic, communicative, organizational, integrative.

In first place among these functions is the strategic function. Its content is to develop strategies and tactics for the development of society, defining a political program of action. It manifests itself in the generation of new ideas that reflect social needs in radical changes, in determining the strategic direction of social development, in developing the concept of urgent reforms.

The strategic function can be fully implemented on top level political elite - parliamentarians, cabinet ministers, experts, advisers, presidential assistant.

Successful implementation strategic function political elite is determined not only by the quality staffing a “brain staff” involved in developing the country’s political course. It also depends on the state of public opinion in the country and its reflection in political decisions. This comes from the next most important function of the political elite - communication. It provides for the effective representation, expression and reflection in political programs of the interests and needs of various social groups, as well as segments of the population, and their implementation in practical actions. This function includes the ability to see the peculiarities of the mood of various social communities, quickly and accurately respond to changes in public opinion on various pressing issues.

In order to establish close contacts with various social groups in each state, the political leadership uses regular personal meetings with people, trips around the country, etc.

Organizing function. The political elite has always faced, and will continue to face, the need to organize the masses. Among potential political elites, the most effective will be those that are more able to secure mass support for their programs.

The developed strategic course is embodied in a system of various political measures. These include:

legislative (adoption of laws and other legislative acts by parliament, government);

mobilizing ( various shapes influence on public consciousness, formation of moods, value orientations of people);

regulating (distribution and redistribution of material, human, financial resources);

coordinating (coordination of central and regional actions);

controlling;

corrective and others.

G. Mosca and V. Pareto as the founders of the theory of elites

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Information from my lectures.

What is the political elite?

Political elite is a community of professionals who are involved in public administration and power relations; elite layers of society with authority and power resources in the political, economic, humanitarian, and other spheres.

What are the main types of elites emerging in society?

The ruling elite (has power), the administrative elite (officials, ministers), the scientific elite (engaged in the development of culture and science), the clique (illegally seized power and personal subordination - 90s), the clan (a closed group based on kinship) and the opposition counter-elite (opposition).

How is the counter-elite different from the elite?

The counter-elite differs from the elite (meaning the ruling elite) in that it determines the functions, actions and activities, programs of opposition parties and movements. The counter-elite opposes and fights the ruling elite.

What is the essence of political leadership?

The essence of political leadership lies in the constancy and legitimacy of the leader, who influences not only individual groups, but also society as a whole.

On what basis is a leader determined?

There are several theories:

-trait theory(owned by Beard and Bogardus), which examines psychological foundations (79 leadership traits); - psychological theory(belongs to Freud and Fromm) examines the motivations of a person striving for leadership; - theory situational analysis , which examines the confluence of circumstances, place and time that contributed to leadership; - integrative theory, which looks at the leader's environment, pressure and stress; - constituent theory(belongs to Stanford) considers the followers of the leader and sees in these relationships the connection and expression of the interests of the retinue through the activities of the leader.

How is the image of a political leader created?

There are political technologists who develop not only a political program, but also the image of a leader. For this there is a classification that Hermann developed: leader-standard-bearer, leader-servant, leader-trader, leader-firefighter. Standard bearer - ideological inspirer (Lenin, Gandhi); servant - satisfies the interests of the electorate or supporters (Chernenko, Brezhnev); trader - surrounded by a team of professionals (Reagan); fireman - manifests himself in crises (Obama).

What role do pressure groups play in political life?

Pressure groups play a large and very important role in political life as they influence policies, stimulate change, influence government and public opinion. In addition, the political system is made up of various pressure groups.

Chapter 12. Political elites and political leadership §1. Political elite

Interest in the study of political elites arose at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. The experience of liberal democracies has shown that universal suffrage and other democratic procedures do not guarantee majority rule. The management of public affairs inevitably falls into the hands of a minority. What is this minority that dominates the rest of the population, how is it formed, what are its functions? These questions are answered by political scientists who have made political elites the subject of systematic research.

The concept of the political elite

The social division between those who exercise power and those in relation to whom it is exercised follows from the very essence of power relations. Power is asymmetrical. The division into the governed and the governing occurs under any form of government and under any regime. In democratic states, as in non-democratic ones, the real control of society is in the hands of an organized minority. However, in a democracy, a minority can come to power only through elections in accordance with the will of the majority and in competition with other voting minorities.

The organized minority, which directly exercises control and makes political decisions, is designated differently: the political elite, the ruling elite, the ruling elite, the political class, the ruling class, the highest political leadership. The wealth of names is often applied to the same socio-political phenomenon - to an actual minority with political controlling power. In modern political science, the term “elite”, introduced by the Italian researcher V. Pareto (1848-1923), ultimately prevailed.

The concept of elite refers to a narrow and relatively closed circle of people with a fairly constant and limited number, with strong internal connections that have significant weight compared to their environment. The elite are the “chosen ones” of one or another sphere of social life. Elite implies exclusivity, special criteria for selection and participation in its functioning. In the social hierarchy, elites occupy the highest rung.

The political elite is an organized minority, a controlling group that is part of a class or social stratum and has real political power, the ability to influence all functions and political actions of a given society without exception.. The founder of elitology, V. Pareto, defined the elite as a group of people occupying a high position according to the degree of their influence, political and social power.

As noted above, political elites are a real fact public relations. The prerequisites for the emergence of the elite are associated with a number of factors:

Political power is a complex system of organized centers of power. The functioning of this system presupposes the existence of a special layer of political leaders and managers who occupy key positions in these centers of power and have decisive social influence;

In actual political practice, a high degree of alienation of the masses from the process of making political decisions and from control over politics remains high. The power of the people and the government of the people are separated;

The technology of political power requires political institutions to perform their functions in short time, which sharply limits the mechanism of consultation with the people when making decisions and contributes to the elitism of politics;

The development of many political decisions also requires special professional knowledge, which also limits public control over the authorities “from below”;

In addition, not all people are interested in politics. For many, other areas of manifestation of their activity are much more attractive, and a minority seeks to engage in politics;

An important factor is the desire of the elite to maintain its power. Elites contribute to stability, reproducibility, prolongation of power, and preservation of the influence of political leaders and leaders.

As representatives of a certain social base, the elites are focused on the effective protection of public interests and on creating the most favorable conditions for their implementation. Political elites unite around the main political value, which is power, “the use of politics.” Power for political elites is valuable in itself; the main thing here is to retain and increase power in all possible ways.

The political elite is distinguished by its special cohesion, common value orientations, socio-political and psychological homogeneity (homogeneity). Elites have a clearly defined group consciousness, a common will to action and consolidation. Socio-political homogeneity helps maintain sufficient unanimity and unity of action in the most difficult situations. Thus, power is strengthened and its integrity and purposefulness are preserved. Psychological homogeneity makes it possible for extraordinary, competing people to maintain compatibility and not lead the situation to a battle of egos or personal splits in the leadership environment. Among individuals included in the political elite, spiritual needs, a range of opportunities, the level of social aspirations, and even human qualities are highly compatible.

Thus, the political elite is not a simple sum of specific individuals who, by chance, find themselves endowed with power, but a social group that is formed as a result of selection, and only those who meet certain requirements remain at the top.

As a kind of dominant power, the political elite plays an exceptional role in the life of society. This is the central link of government. The direction and course of political development and the functioning of the political system as a whole largely depend on the activities of the political elite and its political behavior. As the American political scientist and sociologist D. Bell said, “any assessment of a society’s ability to cope with its problems depends on the quality of its leadership and the character of the people” (quoted from: Sartori J. Vertical Democracy // Political Studies. – 1993. – No. 3. – P. 83).

The authority of the elite - the most important condition her stay in power and maintenance of power. The political elite must be legitimate. When a political or state community ceases to sanction the power of a given political elite, it loses the social basis of its existence and ultimately loses power.

Political elites can come to power through elections by winning the political struggle against other organized minorities that claim to be the political control group. In this case, the interaction between the elite and the masses is legal and legitimate. However, the political elite can come to power through revolutionary means or through a coup d'etat. In such a situation, the new political elite seeks to gain the necessary legitimacy through informal recognition from the unorganized majority. In any case, the relationship between the elite and the masses is based on the principles of leadership and authoritative guidance, and not blind obedience. The legitimation of the political power of the elite distinguishes it from an oligarchy (the power of the few).

There are different approaches to the study of political elites, but all elite researchers believe that any political systems can be considered elitist because there is actually a minority that has political controlling power. This minority either monopolizes decision-making functions or has significant advantages in decision-making, i.e. has predominant influence.

Elite theories

V. Pareto was the first to make the elite the subject of close scientific attention. For V. Pareto, the defining approach is the value approach to understanding the elite. Belonging to the elite depends on special qualities that individuals possess to an extraordinary degree and which provide them with power. According to Pareto, power is possessed by those worthy of power, those who have special qualities for this. A value-based, meritocratic (power of the worthy, power of merit) approach to the elite becomes the basis for substantiating the law of “elite circulation.”

Belonging to the elite depends on special qualities. However, not all people with elite qualities achieve leadership positions. Those who, for a number of reasons, cannot enter the elite, are included in the counter-elite. Elites, V. Pareto believed, tend to decline. Social balance requires that individuals with the necessary qualities be constantly co-opted into the elite. But this does not happen due to the isolation and closed nature of the ruling elite. Over time, psychological changes are observed in characteristic features elites: “innovators” are replaced by “consolidators”, and the elite tends to decline. It is being replaced by a new elite. Revolutions and coups are a change of elites. In his work “The Rise and Fall of the Elites,” Pareto wrote that human history is the history of a constant change of elites, some rose, while others fell into decline.

Thus, according to V. Pareto, the elite are those who have abilities and, because of this, acquire power. When special qualities are lost, then an imbalance occurs between merits, abilities and power, giving rise to a cycle: the old elites are replaced by counter-elites, i.e. elites "according to ability". However, then the process of the elite closing in on itself begins again, the counter-elite ripening at the bottom, and the whole cycle repeats.

Another Italian theorist G. Mosca (1858-1941) also drew attention to the role of the minority that controls the majority. Neither the aristocratic tendency nor the democratic one, from the point of view of G. Mosca, gives power to the majority. Power always passes from the minority to the minority. The only difference is that the aristocratic ruling class is replenished with people from a closed social circle. The democratic ruling class is formed from broad social strata. G. Mosca interpreted elections in a democracy as a path to renewal of the elite, and not as a form of mass control over leaders.

Mosca also talks about the change of elites and the fact that the ruling minority differs from the masses due to its special qualities. But G. Mosca also draws attention to the importance of the organization. The minority rules the majority because it is better organized.

The organizational approach of G. Moschi was developed in the works of the German scientist R. Michels (1876-1936). The elite depends on organization. First, the ability to organize strengthens and guarantees power. Secondly, the structure of the organization inevitably contributes to the formation of an elite. Elites arise as an objective result of socio-political structures and the institutionalization of influences in these structures. R. Michels put forward a law governing all organizations and called it “the iron law of oligarchy.” In accordance with this law, the organizational conditions themselves presuppose the existence of a ruling minority.

Thus, in addition to the value-based, axiological approach to identifying the elite, there is also a structural-functional approach. If supporters of the first approach explain the existence of the elite by certain qualities personal plan, then supporters of the second associate the presence of an elite with a political power pyramid: the elite is those who have the greatest power, the powers that be of a given state, those who are “at the top” (C.R. Mills, G. Lasswell, A. Etzioni, T. Dai ).

Both criteria are interconnected. The elite is truly the group that is at the top of the power pyramid and has the highest influence. However, joining the elite is not always associated with holding a high political position. The political elite includes a wider circle of those who formally “determine” policy and influence government decisions. To reach the pinnacle of power and political influence, truly certain qualities, abilities, and advantages are required. In this case, we are not talking about whether these qualities are good or bad. But the fact that people of the political elite have certain abilities to rule and a special “taste” for power is undeniable.

Functions of the political elite

The political elite is a product and element of the political system of a social-class differentiated society. The political elite is part of the power mechanism that ensures social dominance. Possessing the skills of political management, elites are prepared to effectively represent social and class interests. Their most important function is to actualize the interests of a given class, layer with the help of political power, form the will of the class and directly guide the implementation of this will. The relationship between the ruling class and the ruling elite is a complex interaction. Defending certain class interests, the elite has relative independence, because it is the bearer of direct power. In special situations, the elite can make decisions that are opposed by the majority of its class, since, having the necessary political competence, it better understands both the aggregate interests of the class and the national interests.

Thus, having its own social base, the political elite as a ruling force is a conductor of not only narrow social interests, but also acts as a conductor of general interests. She always motivates her activities by caring for the common good. And in fact, the most important function of the elite is not only to realize the interests of the socially dominant strata, but also to achieve national goals.

The political elite develops public policy, forms a political strategy and strives for its successful implementation. It is important for the elite to integrate various interests and wills into a single resulting will and thereby expand their social base. The final decisions of the political elite are the result of coordination and adjustment of courses, taking into account the motley palette of social positions at the national level. Ultimately, the power of the elite is strong and stable if its decisions are rational, their implementation is effective, and a balance of social interests is achieved in society.

An essential point in the activities of the elite is the protection of values, ideals characteristic of a given society, and ensuring consensus on the fundamental principles of the life of the state.

From the above it follows that the political elite must have self-confidence and be capable of taking decisive and possibly painful measures for society, but its autonomy in decision-making is not absolute. The elite is tested from two sides: from the socially dominant forces and from society. And only to the extent that the elite is able to ensure a balance of such conflicting interests and pursue effective policies, can it long time stay in power.

Political elites are "open" and "closed" types. Elites of the “open” type recruit representatives from various social strata into their composition, although candidates for the elite undergo a lengthy selection process through the established structures of elite reproduction. This eliminates the possibility of mass penetration of incompetent, politically unprepared, and adventurers into the elite. Elites of the “open” type are inherent in liberal-democratic political systems. Supporters of liberal democracy consider the presence of elites and the ability to choose from a sufficient number of well-trained, qualified representatives to be the most important condition for the normal functioning of democracy and the creation of a stable political system.

Political elites of a “closed” type are formed from a limited, closed circle of representatives. This is, for example, the political elite of feudal society - the tribal aristocracy. The Soviet nomenclature also belongs to the “closed” type of elites. In modern conditions, elites of the “closed” type are more prone to decline; they quickly lose the political qualities necessary for the elite.

Elites of the “open” and “closed” types perform functions related to their powers of power. But elites of the “closed” type quickly become confined to the pursuit of narrow selfish interests and lose a broad vision of national priorities.

So, several points are characteristic of political elites in terms of their functioning:

1) expression and protection of the aggregate interest of the layer or class of which it is a representative;

2) development and implementation of state policy based on taking into account all social interests, protection of national interests;

3) motivation of one’s activities by concern for the common good;

4) achieving consensus based on an understanding of common values ​​and principles of functioning of the political system.

Ultimately, the political elite must put national interests above all else, and the “elite” understanding of national interests should be approximately the same as the understanding of such by broad social strata of society.

Political elite and other ruling elites of society

The political elite is the top of the power pyramid. But there are other elites in society who have an extremely high degree of power. American sociologist and political scientist C.R. Mills in his work "The Power Elite" analyzed military, administrative, business(economic) elite of the USA and noted the common roots of these elites - environment, education, social life. In addition to those mentioned above, an ideological elite is also identified, thereby emphasizing the importance of ideology as an element of power relations.

Representatives of the highest political elite occupy strategic positions in the decision-making system. There are not many such people - only 100-200 people. These individuals are personally known, and it is they who make decisions for millions of people. The political elite often includes those who occupy a lower position in the power pyramid, but have quite a significant influence on the processes of political decision-making at the state and regional level. According to sociologists, depending on the population, the total number of such people is from two to ten thousand people.

The administrative or bureaucratic elite is the highest tier of government officials. These are highly educated specialists in the field of public administration and politics by profession. Ideally, they should be above the political struggle and remain neutral in the battle of political elites. The task of the bureaucratic elite is to serve only state interests, to be impartial, not to get involved in political battles, and to carry out orders accurately and conscientiously. But in practice, the bureaucratic elite actively intervenes in politics, influences government decisions and tends to escape political control.

The business and economic elite are large owners, entrepreneurs, and financiers who are most closely connected with the political elite.

The business, bureaucratic, and military elite act as pressure groups on the political elite. There is a struggle between the elites over the distribution of goods and resources. The political elite is more flexible than the military, economic or bureaucratic elite. It seeks to take into account the long-term consequences of decisions made and the interests of various social strata.

The ideological elite stands somewhat apart. It usually includes professional ideologists, people directing the activities of the media, cultural and artistic workers, and the top clergy (especially if the church interferes in politics). This group is distinguished by significant independence; it can also act as opposition to the political elite. The political elite's relations with the ideological elite can be very tense. However, effective management of modern society is impossible without the purposeful formation of its ideological life. Ideologies have become the “internal religion” of the state. Therefore, the political elite is interested in supporting the ideological elite and is looking for compromises with it.

Thus, in modern political literature, a distinction is made between the ruling elite and the political elite. The ruling elite is heterogeneous and has a complex structure. The political elite is part of this structure, although the most important, but only a part. The ruling elite includes elite groups that have a significant influence on political decision-making: these are representatives of the business, bureaucratic, military and ideological elites.

From the point of view of elite theory, modern political systems are either openly elite systems or elitist-pluralistic systems. The element of elitism is also strong in the conditions of modern liberal democracy, although the process of formation of the elite in terms of personnel is under control, and the people have the opportunity to choose in a competitive struggle from various candidates, thereby influencing the composition of the political elite.

Political elites and political leadership are closely related. Modern leaders in democratic countries, they achieve power as a result of the struggle for the votes of the people. The political process is individualized. Political leaders at various levels are part of the political elite.