This research considers the general concept of elites in American society. Specifically, this research examines the role of elites in managing the United States government and American society.
For the greater part, the American population has long accepted and cherished the notion of the United States as an egalitarian and classless society (Shotter, 1985). In theearly 1960s, however, Richard Rovere (1961) cast doubt on this widely held perception, with the publication of his essay "Notes on the Establishment in America." While the concept of an American establishment is still not fully accepted nearly 30 years later (Lerner, Nagai, and Rothman, 1989), it, or its cou sin, the concept of a power elite, is widely accepted (Christo pher, 1989; Silk, and Silk, 1980).
The most spirited contemporary discussions of these con cepts do not emphasize the existence or non existence of an establishment or a power elite in the United States. Rather, such discussions are more likely to be concerned the definition and composition of an establishment or a power elite in this country.
With respect to definition of an American establishment or a power elite, some observers cling to the notion that a set of wealthy families are able to control the country, while others think that, while a power elite exists, it is actually many headed political government, corporate, military, and so forth (Dye, 1986; Domhoff, 1967; Dahl, 1961; Mills, 1956). Still others tend to identify one single group as the power elite, such as major corporations (Mintz, and Cohen, 1976).
With respect to composition of an American establishment or a power elite, some observers contend that ethnicity, the source of a university education, and family background are the principal criteria for entrance into the ranks of the power elite, while others contend that institutions, such as govern ment bureaucracy, the mass media, the military, an so forth, provide the fra...