SOC 101.
20
Submitted to:
Azmat Ara Ahmad (AAA)
Lecturer, Department of Political Science & Sociology
North South University
Submitted by:
NAME ID
TAMANIA CHOWDHURY 1922276630
Date of Submission: 4 June, 2020
Question: How well the power elite and pluralist models describe the exercise of power in
the US? What evidence is presented on this issue in the text?
Answer:
The exercise of elite power is a type of centralized power, which is basically made up of
connections, people who share the same interests, and who generally have control over society.
Thus representing a select and small group that through connections establishes more power.
Pluralist power, on the other hand, also exists through groups, but several, some more powerful
and some less, in the elite model people do not have power even with the vote, in the pluralist
model people have certain power through their vote. According to the elite power there is a large
group that commands the country, it is made through connections and thus uses them to establish
its power, so that the elite people maintain their connections and do not undo them, and thus we
can conclude that this kind of power would be centralized and total, all people outside the elite
would have no power over the country. Already when we talk about pluralist power, it is done by
several groups, where each one has power at different levels, according to this power everyone in
American society could contribute in some way, because everyone exercises some kind of
power.
The type of power most similar to what the United States has is elite power, differing only on the
issue that members are not necessarily connected for the same purposes. If there is only one
group that controls the country and our vote is worthless.
Elite model accepts that in every society there are certain groups of individuals who are powerful
and their views are taken seriously in higher echelons of government on the other hand pluralist
model accepts diverse views, opinions and decisions are taken are taken on the basis of
consensus. Elite model is closer to dictatorship while pluralist model is closer to Democratic
political system. Power is concentrated among the elites in elite model whereas in pluralist
power is dispersed and fragmented. So, the sole power network of any consequence within the
history of the us has been the economic one, which under capitalism generates a business-
owning class and a working class, alongside small businesses and skilled craft workers who are
self-employed, and a comparatively small number of highly trained professionals like architects,
lawyers, physicians, and scientists. In this context, the key reason why money can rule -- i.e.,
why the business owners who hire workers can rule -- is that the people who work in the
factories and fields were divided from the outset into free and slave, white and black, and later
into numerous immigrant ethnic groups also, making it difficult for workers as an entire to unite
politically to battle for higher wages and better social benefits. This important point is elaborated
on toward the end of this document in a section entitled "The Weaknesses of the Working Class."
However, research suggests that pluralism is observed as the form of democracy in many
societies around the world, but even in the purest democracies, the elite’s exits in the corridors of
power and in the battleground during elections to decide government formation and policy
making. Power inequality in societies is usually very common.in order to reduce this inequality
the society should ensure that there is good participatory decision making, this will be done by
increasing the voice of the poor and also involving them in projects being taken in the society.
The power elite model stresses that power is among a little group of individuals who tend to
regulate politics. The pluralist model states that power is distributed among many groups of
people.
The major differences are:
• elitism is closer to dictatorship while pluralism is closer to democracies
• Pluralism is in tone with diverse view while elitism only takes the views of the leaders seriously.
Strategies to effectively reduce inequality are;
• better social programs
• enforce a wage
• participatory deciding
• stop labor abuses
• stop illegal outflows of cash
• deconstruction of poverty
• progressive tax
The undeniable truth that economic and political power goes hand in hand exists in America. This is
often because the economic giants and leaders in US determines key political decisions also because the
politician serving a touch percentage of the rich who own corporations in America and therefore the
entire globe. This is often true since there's limited political involvement of the scholars (youth) also as
activism within the US. Most of the people in elective positions especially within the senate are beyond
the scholar age. This is often a results of culture, academic qualifications needed to hitch politics and
economic status where students find it necessary to finish their studies first.
Weber was more scientific in his social theorem postulation compared to Marx who was more social.
Additionally, Weber emerged better than Marx who more deterministic in his theories. Weber wanted
to obviously evaluate the impact of capitalism as an economic and social founding for political power.
The pluralist model advocates for fragmented and dispersed power among various groups. Because the
US political power stands there's actually limited pluralist model which indicates the skeptical view. he's
favoring power elite model, Domhoff's and Mills because the US political is controlled majorly by the
elite in society with some aspects of Domhoff's and Mills. That’s why the more leaning towards the elite
model within the US political and economic power distribution. Under the present he states that the
elite class rules, wins and benefits at the expense of ordinary Americans.
These models are described because the main power bases within the us , and it's possible to know that
power is formed through connections, but also the idea that just one group has power is somewhat
complicated in spite of creating sense. Research was wiped out reference to these groups, and
something very almost like the elite model was found, where a little group had tons of power, so maybe
we will say that power within thus isn't so linear.
