The Power Elite C. Wright Mills

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The Power EliteC. Wright Mills

Have you ever felt powerless to impact politics? Like the major decisions are all being made by powerful people far away? You’re not alone—and things haven’t always been this way. In The Power Elite, American sociologist C. Wright Mills discusses how a small group of corporate, military, and political leaders has taken over a vast majority of American political and economic decision-making. This class of power elites are unaccountable to the people, can exercise their power broadly, and have exploited many American institutions for their own benefit.

Writing in 1956, Mills explores how the power elite came into existence after the American Civil War and how they solidified their power in the years after World War II. He also discusses who these elites are, how they operate, and what their rule means for the American people. Our guide to The Power Elite will cover his theories while also providing historical examples, dissenting opinions, and context for the era in which the book was written.

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