Explain briefly the elite theory of democracy.
Elite theory challenges the classical democratic ideal of people’s rule. It argues that in every society, a small minority – the elite – controls power and decision-making, while the masses remain passive. Thinkers like Pareto, Mosca, and Michels emphasized that organizational complexities make direct democracy impractical. According to them, elites emerge due to superior skills, resources, or organization. Democracy, therefore, becomes a competition among elites rather than genuine mass participation. Critics argue that elite theory reduces democracy to elitism, but its real contribution lies in highlighting the limits of popular sovereignty. Modern democracies reflect this through party politics, bureaucracy, and lobbying groups. However, elite theory also accepts circulation of elites, meaning power is not static but shifts across groups, giving democracy a dynamic, albeit limited, character.
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