Social Inequality Chapter 4 – Political Inequality

Social InequalityChapter 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 • Three views of how political power is distributed throughout society: • Pluralist View • Power-Elite View • Ruling Class View Each view suggests a different distribution of political power

Pluralist View • 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

Pluralist View • 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 • 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… • 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 • 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)

Power-Elite View ABOUT Q&AC-SPAN's Interview Series “Every Sunday night, we will introduce you to interesting people who are making things happen in politics, the media, education, and science & technology in hour-long conversations about their lives and their work.” http://www.q-and-a.org/ In my view, the future power elite can be seen on Q&A!

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… • 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 • 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 • Political Action Committees (PACs) collect money from individuals and present to candidates in hopes of influencing their decisions • The expense of running for office make PACs important for politicians • The PACs money gives these groups disproportionate amounts of influence • There is debate about how much influence they have

Examples of PACs… • 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

Sections Skipped… • Power Inequality in the Work Experience (pp. 84 – 87) • Power Inequality in a Global and Globalizing Context (pp. 87 – 89)

Wrapping Up… • We have three perspectives that order our thinking about political power in the US • Pluralist view • Power elite view • Ruling Class View • We have three ways that groups can exert political power: • Voting • Holding political office • Influencing politicians through money (PACs)

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Social Inequality Chapter 4 – Political Inequality