I. ELITIST THEORY

• Elitist theories originated in sociology, posing a challenge to democratic theory.
• Elitist theories categorize society into elites (minority with preponderant influence) and masses (governed by the elite).
• Vilfredo Pareto, Gaetano Mosca, and Robert Michels were early contributors to elitist theories.
• Pareto emphasized the elite's high ability, while masses lacked leadership qualities and feared responsibility.
• Mosca's "The Ruling Class" proposed the division of people into rulers and the ruled.
• Michels' "iron law of oligarchy" stated that organizations become oligarchies, ruled by a chosen few.
• Empirical evidence suggested democracy as the government of the people is challenging.
• Revision of democratic theory led to the development of democratic elitism.
• Karl Mannheim advocated for reconciliation between elite theory and democratic theory.
• Mannheim argued that actual policy shaping by elites doesn't negate democracy; people express their aspirations periodically.
• Joseph A. Schumpeter distinguished democracy by the method of appointing and dismissing leaders.
• Schumpeter emphasized that political decisions are made by leadership, not the people directly.
• The role of the people in democracy is reduced to choosing rulers through a competitive struggle among elites.
• Raymond Aron combined democratic theory with the elite theory, emphasizing checks and balances and a plurality of elites in liberal democracy.
• Aron suggested liberal democracy involves a divided elite and compromise, unlike the unified elite in Soviet-type societies.
• Giovanni Sartori, similar to Schumpeter, viewed democracy as a procedure where leaders compete for authority through elections.
• Sartori believed the role of the elite is crucial for democracy; self-governing people is considered a delusion.
• Leadership in democracy serves to prevent exploitation by anti-democratic counter-elites.
• Sartori emphasized the role of leadership in educating public opinion within the democratic system.