American Government / Unit 1 Gov 011 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Elite Theory
Captions available
The idea
Elite theory holds that a small, wealthy, powerful group controls government and shapes policy to its own benefit.
In practice
C. Wright Mills's The Power Elite argued that business, military, and political elites govern together.
Where people slip
Elite theory is a description offered by theorists, not a settled verdict on the United States.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
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