Sociology Of Elite Phenomenal Study

• Elites

The sociology of elites was one of the important strands to emerge out of continental theoretical tradition. One among the many theoretical foundations in the field of sociology of elites is laid by Mosca (1939). His theory on elites stratifies societies into two distinguishable groups: the ruling class and the ruled. The ruling class are closely-knit, less in number, hence well-coordinated, “monopolizes power and enjoys the advantages that power brings” while the second class are recipients of ruling class’ influence and control. While the second-class toil to provide the material benefits and ‘instrumentalities’, it is the ruling class who stand at the helm over the production, prioritization and distribution of essential needs

His argument is foregrounded via three critical junctures in the Indian economy: emerging entrepreneurial activity in British India, independence of the Indian nation and the turbulent times of License Raj and, finally, the relaxation for foreign capital and liberalization of the Indian economy. He studies different communities from various geographical locations and tacitly argues how the emergence, sustenance, and withering of these dominant communities were nudged by the existing social, political and historical

According to him, the historic head start endowed upon the “top of the twice-born (TTB)” by social and political forces resulted in formation of cultural hierarchy which imposes great social distress for the marginalized. This is empirically demonstrated by Aggarwal et al (2015) who set out to survey the membership of public institutions such as the University faculty, Bar associations, and Press Club in the city of Allahabad. Their findings unsurprisingly reveal that upper castes like Brahmins and Kayasthas disproportionately occupy positions of power and guard their privileges which perpetuate the caste privileges, and at a higher level, the caste system. The reasons given were the “relatively high levels of education among the upper castes,” through which they can leverage their education qualification and enter into the high posts in the administration. The upper castes also tend to have “extensive and powerful networks…[just]by the virtue of their caste and family ties.” Similarly, Bourdieu, in Distinction, also categorizes four types of capital belonging to elites within a “field of power”: social, economic, cultural and symbolic capital. He put forth this idea that the arena of elites is pervaded with relative contestation for power and