www.educationforum.co.uk - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

www.educationforum.co.uk

Distribution of Power SummarySlide2

Classical Pluralism

Power is widely distributed in modern democracies

Parties, pressure groups represent the interests of the people and compete for influence

Multiple centres of power – polyarchy (

RA Dahl

)

The State is the neutral arena for discussion and the neutral arbiter of disputes (

G Parry

)Slide3

Criticisms of Classical pluralism

Fails to consider second and third faces of power (

Lukes

)

Fails to appreciate the extent of the power of wealth and capital (Marxism)

Fails to recognise the unequal power of interest groups – polyarchy rather idealistic

Fails to consider ‘outsider’ groups – those deliberately placed outside of the decision making process because their views are challenging to those in authoritySlide4

Elite Pluralism

A response by pluralists to criticisms of classical pluralism

Elite pluralists recognise that some groups have more influence and access than others

Also recognise that pressure groups themselves are elitist in structure

Claim that pressure group elites still represent the views of the community on most issues

Claim that unrepresented groups e.g. The poor and ethnic minorities still get listened to because of the number of votes they command

Studies –

David Marsh

– identifies ‘policy communities’ surrounding big issues. Such communities are made up of insider AND outsider groups. The ordinary person’s voice is heard by decision makers through these policy communitiesSlide5

Classical Elite Theory

Claims that domination by elites is both desirable and inevitable

Mosca, Michels, Pareto

Pareto

– psychological characteristics – lions and foxes and the circulation of elites

Mosca

emphasised organisational abilities of elite members and suggested that different qualities were expected at different historical periods

Michels

– ‘iron law of oligarchy’ – all organisations necessarily and inevitably become elite dominated as a grow and gain influenceSlide6

The Power Elite

20

th

century variation on elite theory by

C

W

right Mills

Elite rule not necessarily inevitable but is the pattern for modern western countries

A ‘power elite’ has emerged in USA made up of national government, big business and the military – they inter marry, share a similar educational and social background and dominate decision making

EVIDENCE

- key political decisions like the dropping of the atom bomb on Hiroshima or recent invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan are made with virtually no consultation with the people

Mills sounds similar to Marxism BUT Marxists would argue real power comes from ownership of wealth not from membership of organisations

KEY QUESTION

– is there a power elite in the UK?Slide7

Elites in Britain – the Evidence

Stanworth and Giddens

(1974) found that the vast majority of the UK elite were recruited from fee paying schools and Oxford and

C

ambridge Universities

13 top Tories

currently in

government went to Eton

Feminist research suggests women are excluded from elite recruitment – only 143 of 650 MPs are women

Only 27 MPs are from ethnic minority backgrounds

Have major recent foreign policy decisions been made by a ‘power elite’ with no consultation with the people?

YES

–

I

raq war 2003 despite largest ever demonstration ever against such action

NO

–

S

yria – intervention favoured by PM Cameron but had to back down when Parliament voted againstSlide8

Marxism

Power is concentrated in hands of bourgeoisie and the State represents and protects their interests

Milliband

– instrumentalist – those who run the state share a common educational and social background and therefore promote the interests of capitalism

Poulantzas

– structuralist – the state is part of the ‘structure’ of capitalist society and will therefore act in the interests of capitalism regardless of the social background of who is in control. The State itself has a degree of relative autonomy and will always act in the long term interests of capitalism rather than short term interests of elite leaders

Gramsci

– hegemonic – emphasises the power of ideas in the power of the state – consent to an unjust system is manufactured through the ideological and cultural hegemony of the bourgeoisieSlide9

Criticisms of Marxism

The Ruling class no longer exists because of wider share ownership and property ownership – millions of people are ‘stakeholders’ in capitalism

Marxism has been criticised for being ‘reductionist’ – reducing every argument to class and wealth and ignoring important sociological themes such as gender and ethnicitySlide10

Postmodernism and Power

FOUCAULT

: Power resides in ‘discourses’ – ways of talking about things rather than from social structures (Foucault calls himself a post structuralist).

As discourses change so does power and how it is applied

Foucault Introduces the idea of ‘disciplinary power’ – the result of a new post modern discourse which seeks to control the human body and the human mind

Disciplinary power

is applied through judges, prison officers, psychiatrists etc. And seeks to ‘normalise’ deviant behaviour

Foucault emphasises the use of surveillance technology as mechanism of disciplinary powerSlide11

Criticisms of Foucault

Foucault gives no indication as to from where dominant discourses originate

Structuralists like Marxists would claim

discourses

reflect ideology

which in turn serves

the economic structure of societySlide12

Feminism

Patriarchy is central to understanding power in society – men are dominant women are subordinate

Studies –

Sylvia Walby

– 6 sources of male power – work, domestic work, culture, sexuality, violence and the sate

Much empirical evidence suggest women remain absent from top jobs are remain principle child carersSlide13

Review Each Lesson on this topic

Feminism

http://www.educationforum.co.uk/sociology_2/feminism.htm

Elite theory

http://www.educationforum.co.uk/sociology_2/elites.htm

Pluralism

http://www.educationforum.co.uk/sociology_2/plural.htm

Elite

pluralism

http://www.educationforum.co.uk/sociology_2/elitepluralism2.htm

Marxism

http://www.educationforum.co.uk/sociology_2/marxistpower.htmSlide14

Revision Guide

Read pages 148-149 – note any additional studies. Complete practice questions and practice exam question

Use white textbook for general reading