Literature review and identification of analytical issues

The literature review presents the summarized information and concluded findings of the several research studies that are conducted on the topic of the power elite. In literature review part important concepts and theories related to the power elites are mentioned that provide brief overview and understanding towards the power elite and highlights the difference between the public of middle class and power elites in the society (Manza & Cook, 2002). Power elites are the dominating groups in the society that has power because of the resources and capital. Power elites are from the network of top corporations, political leaders and military of the country.

In accordance with the Mills people not living the life of a power elite are unable to understand and control the great changes happening around them. While on the other side the rich people and power elites are influencing the lives of other (middle class) also through their decisions (Clegg, Courpasson, & Phillips, 2006). Basically, power elites, for instance, the political leader, military officer or the top level government officer are given opportunity in the society to take the decisions for the matters that have great significant importance in regards to the consequences linked with their decisions. The decisions are taken by them and the use of their power has the direct relation with the economic, social, political and ethical life's of the other people living in the same society but who do not have rights similar to the power elite group towards policies making and changing economic conditions.  

In the current situation of our society powerful people and power elite group are taking decisions according to their will rather than responding to the public opinion (Mills, 2000). In fact, power cannot be only elaborated as the excess of the money or the strong financial resources, the strength to take decisions and strength to influence the life of the other people is also the power that can be because of physical strength, political position, or affliction with the powerful group of people. According to the Clegg, elite power is directly concerned with the equilibrium, maintenance, and balance of the cultural and political cohesion and the management of the various process through which a particular group of a country takes decisions for political matters. Clegg also discussed the examples of the organization and corporate level management to elaborate his point towards power elite’s role.

In accordance with his book, power and authority should be delegated at each level from bottom to top and vice versa. Exploitation is also a related concept for the power elite however, power elites cannot be considered as exploitation (Shipman, Edmunds, & Turner, 2018). In accordance to him, power relationship has circular nature that covers elite corporate level power and the powerlessness of contemporary workers. In accordance with the research, there are two major schools that related to the elite in the society (Phillips, 2018).

The Marxist school of thought studies and view the power elites as the entities having strength in the resources and capital, for instance, having strength in the cultural values, economic condition, social and political resources, and capitals. While the Weberians are quite opposite from them as they pay attention to the power and resources elites possess rather than the economic power that an elite need to capture (Domhoff, 1990). However, Clegg also elaborated that there are no elites that are working quite independently. In fact, they are also under the control of someone as the public, codes, and ethics or the exerting pressures by other elites. In his views, there can be manpower but it does not mean that are elites also.

References of  analytical issues 

Clegg, S. R., Courpasson, D., & Phillips, N. (2006). Power and Organizations. SAGE Publications Ltd. Retrieved 11 14, 2018

Domhoff, G. W. (1990). The Power Elite and the State: How Policy Is Made in America. Transaction Publishers. Retrieved 11 14, 2018, from https://books.google.com.pk/books?id=A35GpAnLR5EC&dq=the+power+elite+and+the+state&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Manza, J., & Cook, F. L. (2002). Navigating Public Opinion: Polls, Policy, and the Future of American Democracy. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 11 14, 2018

Mills, C. W. (2000). The Power Elite. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 11 14, 2018

Phillips, P. (2018). Giants: The Global Power Elite. Seven Stories Press. Retrieved 11 14, 2018

Shipman, A., Edmunds, J., & Turner, B. (2018). The New Power Elite: Inequality, Politics and Greed. Anthem Press. Retrieved 11 14, 2018