Transcript Social Inequality Chapter 4 – Political Inequality

Social Inequality
Chapter 4 – Political Inequality
Dr. Roderick Graham
Fordham University
Political Inequality

Like the unequal distribution of money or social status,
the ability to exercise political power is unevenly
distributed throughout society
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Three views of how political power is distributed
throughout society:
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Pluralist View
Power-Elite View
Ruling Class View
Each view suggests a different distribution of political power
Pluralist View
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Power is shared
Groups are relatively autonomous
The average citizen can be effective by joining one of
these groups and through voices of journalists and
intellectuals
There is no permanent structure of power…power shifts
and power is balanced
Pluralist View – An example of the
pluralist view on a local issue
Teachers
Religious
Groups
Evolution?
Parents
Scientists
Pluralist View

1.
2.
Sociologist strongly criticize pluralism…
Many issues of the common man are not addressed in
political discourse
Organizations are no longer effective at representing
the common man
Remember Weber and the idea that society is run more
and more by bureaucracies. People who join
organizations are now at the bottom rung of
bureaucracies…they have no say.
Pluralist View
If you join one of these groups, how much
say do you have in how the group
approaches social issues?
Power-Elite View
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As society grows, institutions become more complex
(economic, military, political)
The positions at the top of these institutions require
similar skills – they are top positions in bureaucracies
The power elite is made of…
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The highest political leaders including the president and a
handful of key cabinet members and close advisers
Major corporate owners and directors;
High-ranking military officers
Select academics
Journalist and people in media
Power Elite View
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Instead of three separate power elites, for military, economic,
and political institutions….these institutions are all coalescing
into one

The power elite hold positions in several of these institutions

In this view, the organizations we mentioned in the pluralist
view has little to do with real decision making on a
NATIONAL level

Working/middle classes have little to do with framing the
national agenda
Power Elite View (The growth of the
power elite after WWII)
Economic
Military
Political
Before – Local
Businessmen
owning Capital
Before – Small
military
Before – Congress
with more power
After –
Bureaucrats for
national
corporation
After – Permanent
military growth
(military industrial
complex)
After – The
executive branch
gained more
power
Power-Elite View
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A Member of the Power Elite?
Political – Member of US Congress
Economic – Former chairman of the House Committee on
the Budget, Director of the United States Office of
Management and Budget
Military – Head of the CIA
Ruling Class View

The economic institutions are more dominant than
military and political

People with large investments hold inordinate power
(thus we can say that the ruling class is composed of the
upper class)

Also, in this view, the ruling class socializes with each
other extensively (they can be called a social class or
status group)
Ruling Class View

The ruling class dominates politics because of their
wealth and public influence

Like the power elite perspective, it is the ruling class that
sets the agenda for the nation
Distribution of Political Power in the US
Groups can exert influence (show political power)
through…
a)
b)
c)
Voting
Holding political office
Using money to influence the political agenda
Distribution of Political Power in the US
Voting
 Members of minority groups vote less
 People low in SES vote less
 Those who are well off economically participate in the
political process more (attend meetings, donate money),
and acculturate their children to participating in the
political process as well
 Groups in today’s society are voting based on status issues
and not class issues…people may vote based upon issues
that pertain to their lifestyle or social group
Distribution of Political Power in the US
Holding Political Office
 White males dominate political positions at the federal
level. Historically white upper and middle class men have
held the majority of political positions
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African-Americans holding political positions have
increased steadily (but still not in proportion to their
population)

Gender roles inhibit women becoming political figures
(stereotypes about what a woman should be do not
conform with what a politician should be)
Distribution of Political Power in the US
Using money to influence the political agenda
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Political Action Committees (PACs) collect money from
individuals and present to candidates in hopes of influencing
their decisions
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The expense of running for office make PACs important for
politicians
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The PACs money gives these groups disproportionate
amounts of influence
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There is debate about how much influence they have
Examples of PACs…
1.
2.
3.
4.
The Eagle Forum
The Human Rights Campaign
Emily’s List
USINPAC
Here is a list of the top donors in the US from
Opensecrets.org:
http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/index.php
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Sections Skipped…

Power Inequality in the Work Experience (pp. 84 – 87)

Power Inequality in a Global and Globalizing Context (pp.
87 – 89)
Wrapping Up…
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We have three perspectives that order our thinking about
political power in the US
1.
2.
3.
Pluralist view
Power elite view
Ruling Class View
We have three ways that groups can exert political
power:
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1.
2.
3.
Voting
Holding political office
Influencing politicians through money (PACs)
END