The power elite is a concept developed by C. Wright Mills in 1956 that defines the people who hold the most of resources and can control society. Politicians, military leaders, famous entertainers like musicians and actors, business people, and entrepreneurs who have a lot of wealth and influence at their disposal are considered to be a part of the power elite (Griffiths et al. 140). As invisible and untouchable members of society, they dictate the laws and regulations to control the way institutions and people function to gain the most benefit and remain concealed (Griffiths et al. 140). These manipulations make the small group of the power elite less susceptible to being convicted. For instance, members of the power elite are more likely to avoid punishment for drug possession and use than regular people.
The current power elite fits the types of individuals Mills initially described. On-screen and online celebrities, political and military leaders, and CEOs can be considered a power elite today. I believe that Mills’ concept is relevant to the way the modern law system functions. For instance, an example of how the punishment for drug use is milder for cocaine, a “rich people’s drug,” than for crack, a “poor person’s drug,” shows that the power elite can influence the judicial system in their favor (Griffiths et al. 141). In contrast, the system may support rich people due to their status and deeply embedded bias. For that reason, I believe in the dual nature of the framework. Although the power elite can determine how the society functions, communities, and people may be conditioned to behave in a way that favors and protects the privileged since it is happening for so long. It can be argued that not every instance of a privileged elite avoiding punishment is a part of the conspiracy. It can be evidence of how institutions are trained to perceive powerful people as untouchable and play along with the established scenario.
Work Cited
Griffiths, Heather et al. Introduction to Sociology. OpenStax College, 2015.