Today, many sociologists argue that Mills's writings remain relevant and useful today in our efforts to understand social reality (Elwell, 2000).
Consider, for example, Mills's explanation of the evolution, significance and interaction of what he identifies as the "power elite." Mills argues that the class of the power elite is composed of men whose positions enable them to transcend the ordinary environments of ordinary men and women (Mills, 1956, p. 4). They are in positions to make decisions having major consequences and whether they do or do not make such decisions is less important that the fact that they occupy such pivotal positions. Their failure to act, their failure to make decisions, is itself an act that is often of greater consequences than the decisions they do make (Mills, 1956, p. 4). This elite commands the major hierarchies and organizations of modern society such as the big corporations, the state apparatus, including the all-important military establishment and the social structure, through power, wealth and celebrity (Mills, 1956, pp. 3-4). The significance of the power elite is not that they have the most, but that they have positions in the ruling institutions, which provide the necessary bases of power, wealth and prestige as well as the opportunity to exercise power, acquire wealth and claim prestige (Mills 1956, p. 9).
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