elected politician actively communicate with government leaders…
• But it has a problem today.
• These days, people, especially young, do not turnout voting.
Figure 2: Voter Turnout Worldwide
• Because politics is related to power and authority, marginalized groups, such as women
and racial and ethnic minorities are lack of political strength.
Figure 3: Government Participation of Women as of 2010
Who really holds the power today?
• Karl Marx believed that 19th century representative democracy did not function well.
• He argued that industrial societies were dominated by relatively small numbers of
people who owned factories.
• They also controlled natural resources.
• In his view, government officials and military leaders were servants of the capitalist
class.
Power Elite Models
• C. Wright Mills said that in the US, a small group of military, industrial, and
government leaders controls the state. = power elite
• Power rested in the hands of a few, both inside and outside government.
• In this model, economically powerful corporates cooperate with the military and
political leaders to serve their common interests.
• Powerless masses are at the bottom.
Figure 4: Power in the United States
2
nd Power Elite Models
• There is another Power Elite Models.
• For this, the elites of corporates and political organizations do not agree on specific
policies, but just cooperate.