<P> In political science and sociology , elite theory is a theory of the state which seeks to describe and explain the power relationships in contemporary society . The theory posits that a small minority , consisting of members of the economic elite and policy - planning networks , holds the most power and that this power is independent of a state 's democratic elections process . Through positions in corporations or on corporate boards , and influence over the policy - planning networks through financial support of foundations or positions with think tanks or policy - discussion groups , members of the `` elite '' are able to exert significant power over the policy decisions of corporations and governments . An example of this can be found in the Forbes magazine article ( published in December 2009 ) entitled The World 's Most Powerful People , in which Forbes purported to list the 67 most powerful people in the world ( assigning one `` slot '' for each 100,000,000 of human population ) . The basic characteristics of this theory are that power is concentrated , the elites are unified , the non-elites are diverse and powerless , elites interests are unified due to common backgrounds and positions and the defining characteristic of power is institutional position . </P>
<P> In political science and sociology , elite theory is a theory of the state which seeks to describe and explain the power relationships in contemporary society . The theory posits that a small minority , consisting of members of the economic elite and policy - planning networks , holds the most power and that this power is independent of a state 's democratic elections process . Through positions in corporations or on corporate boards , and influence over the policy - planning networks through financial support of foundations or positions with think tanks or policy - discussion groups , members of the `` elite '' are able to exert significant power over the policy decisions of corporations and governments . An example of this can be found in the Forbes magazine article ( published in December 2009 ) entitled The World 's Most Powerful People , in which Forbes purported to list the 67 most powerful people in the world ( assigning one `` slot '' for each 100,000,000 of human population ) . The basic characteristics of this theory are that power is concentrated , the elites are unified , the non-elites are diverse and powerless , elites interests are unified due to common backgrounds and positions and the defining characteristic of power is institutional position . </P>
who holds power in elite and class theory
who holds power in elite and class theory
small minority , consisting of members of the economic elite and policy - planning networks
small minority , consisting of members of the economic elite and policy - planning networks