J A M E S W I L S O N , P O L I T I C A L S C I E N T I S T

MARXIST THEORY
• Government is a reflection of underlying economic forces
• Relies on ownership of the means of production
• Pointless to study government since it is controlled by the dominant social class

“POWER ELITE” THEORY
• C. Wright Mills, sociologist
• Most important policies are set by a loose coalition of three groups – corporate leaders, top military officers and a handful of key political leaders (some political scientists now add the communications media, labor leaders or heads of special interest groups

HOW DOES THE “POWER ELITE”
THEORY WORK?
• Government is dominated by a few top leaders who enjoy advantages of wealth, status or organizational position, but most of whom are outside of government
• Act in concert and their policies benefit the elite

BUREAUCRATIC THEORY
• Max Weber, German historian and sociologist
• Appointed civil servants run everything
• All institutions, governmental and nongovernmental, have fallen under the control of large bureaucracies whose expertise and specialized competence are essential to the management of contemporary affairs

PROS / CONS
• Pros: decisions are often more rational
• Cons: too much political power is given to unelected bureaucrats

PLURALIST THEORY
• Political resources are widely scattered among political elites so no elite has a monopoly
• Policies are the outcome of competition, political compromise, and shifting alliances