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Sociology, as a discipline that delves into social structures and social phenomena, has always revolved around two core questions: who holds power, and how this form of power shapes and influences social events. In order to delve deeper into these two issues, sociologists have introduced the concepts of class and power, and deepened their research using specific theoretical frameworks such as historical materialism, the theory of the ruling class, and Mills's theory of the power elite.
Historical materialism holds that the development and transformation of society is determined by the economic base, which is mainly composed of productive forces and production relations. In this view, the emergence and continued domination of social elites is due to their dominant position in the development of the productive forces, which enables them to control the relations of production and thus to seize power in the political, cultural and other fields.
Ruling class theory, on the other hand, emphasizes the stability and continuity of the ruling class, arguing that social elites maintain their dominance by controlling political, economic, and cultural resources. This theory focuses on how elites can defend their interests through institutionalized power structures.
Mills's theory of the power elite starts from the decision-making power and influence of elites, emphasizing the key role of elites in social change. He argues that social change does not originate from broad mass movements, but is led and driven by elites.
While these elite theories have different research focuses, they share the common goal of exploring the factors of social change that lead to the continued domination of elites. These factors may include production techniques, ideologies, forms of power, weapons, population, and culture, among others.
In the process of exploring these questions, sociologists began to conduct in-depth analysis of the patterns of social management, survival strategies, and the differences and universalities of the distribution of power. They examine how these social attributes and patterns are closely related to social change and how they affect the relationship between different classes.
Over time, some sociologists have attempted to summarize the patterns of interaction between elites and non-elites, and how these patterns have shaped past and future social formations, resulting in an academic tradition known as elite sociology. It is important to note that meritocracy and meritocracy are two different concepts. Elite sociology is an academic approach to the study of social structure and power relations, and elite theory is an important part of elite sociology, which mainly emphasizes the powerful and decisive role of elites in social change.
The triadic theory of power, i.e., political power, economic power, and status power, proposed by the German sociologist Max Weber, has a profound impact on understanding how social elites operate and the distribution of social power. In Weber's theory, different types of elites focus on acquiring one of these three types of power. This categorization helps us delve into the nature of power in society, as well as the competition and interaction of elites in different fields.
Political power refers to the control of the state and political institutions, which can exert coercive influence on society and others. Economic power refers to the control of resources and wealth, and the maximization of profits through markets and business activities. Status power is manifested in the preponderance of the social status ladder, which leads to respect and recognition. These three powers have different manifestations and influences in different social, cultural, and historical periods.
Sociologists try not to presuppose that a particular type of elite will always be the most powerful, or that they will predetermined their future destiny when studying elites. This relatively open-minded attitude helps to avoid falling into the trap of dogmatism and to better observe and explain social phenomena.
However, there are right-wing and pessimistic sociologists known as pure elite determinists who advocate that only elites, or even a particular type of elite, such as officials, business owners, or scientists, can make history, and that others are only supporting characters for them. They argue that moves towards egalitarianism, such as modern democracy or the Soviet revolution, are for the most part illusory and will eventually succumb to the so-called iron law of oligarchism, in which power is always in the hands of a relatively small group.
Although this view reveals to some extent the phenomenon of concentration of power that exists in social reality, it is too absolute and simplistic, ignoring other factors that affect the development of society. In modern mature societies, theories mostly try to avoid this notion of inevitability, whether optimistic or pessimistic. The future is shaped by the past, but it is not determined by the past. As historical materialism says, people create their own history, although they cannot do it completely as they please.
In general, there are four sociological theorists or thinkers who have had a decisive influence on elite sociology: the theory of historical materialism, the theory of elite determinism, Weber's theory of power, and Bourdieu's theory of culture. These four scholars focus on the four most important elements of sociology: class, power, bureaucracy, and culture. By studying and analyzing these elements, elite sociology answers the question of who has rights and how such rights shape social events.
First, the theory of historical materialism holds that the social structure is made up of the economic base and the superstructure, and that the elite is a key part of the superstructure. This theory emphasizes that the change and development of society is driven by economic forces, and that elites play a crucial role in this process. Marx and Engels, the representatives of the theory of historical materialism, revealed the contradictions and struggles between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie, as well as the process of the proletariat's seizure of power through revolution, through the study of the structure and operation of capitalist society.
Second, elite determinism emphasizes the decisive influence of elites on social development. Exponents of this theory, such as Pareto and Michels, argue that the development and transformation of society is not determined by the whole people, but by a few elites. They further pointed out that the rights and status of these elites do not derive from the empowerment of the people, but from their own capabilities and opportunities.
Thirdly, Weber's theory of power explores the source and operation of power from the perspective of rationalization and bureaucracy. He believes that power is the ability to allocate resources and opportunities, and the bureaucratic system is the main mechanism for the operation of power. Weber's theory of power emphasizes the close relationship between power and bureaucracy, and the impact of this relationship on social development.
Finally, Bourdieu's cultural theory explores the operation of power from a cultural and symbolic perspective. He believes that power is not only the distribution of material resources, but also the control of culture and symbols. Bourdieu's theory of culture emphasizes the interplay between cultural and social structures, and the impact of this interaction on elite status.
The research of these four sociological theorists or thinkers has given us a deep understanding of power and elites in the social structure, revealing the internal mechanisms of social development and change. Their research not only helps us answer the question of who has rights and how such rights shape social events, but also makes us aware of the complexity and diversity of society. Therefore, elite sociology, as an important branch of sociology, has a profound impact on our social research and practice.
In general, elite sociology provides us with a deep understanding of the operation of society, so that we can more accurately grasp the changes and development trends of society, so as to contribute to the social progress and improvement of people's livelihood in the mainland.