Short Communication
Year: 2020 | Month: December | Volume: 7 | Issue: 12 | Pages: 412-416
Redefining Elite Power in the Changing Context of the 21st Century
Md. Farijuddin Khan
Doctoral Candidate at the U.S. Studies Programme, Centre for Canadian, US and Latin American Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
ABSTRACT
The article questions the general attitude toward elites and elitism in India and abroad. The piece highlights the historiography of human evolution and governance structure where “rule by elites” is found to be a non-detachable character. The theory of elite-rule has been found in the writings of ancient political philosopher such as Aristotle. Proponents for elite-rule continue in the modern era and are reflected in the writings of political theorists such as C.W. Mills and M. Pareto. The article further highlights the practical continuity of the elite-rule in politics, economic and corporate organizations across the globe, and in our society. It examines and analyses high and low points of elite power in history. The piece explores the high points in history when a group of few dedicated and selfless patriots come together and form a consensus to write future Constitutions of the two largest democracies in the world based on secularism, equality, justice and sovereignty. The low points in history are marked by persecutions, massacres and other form of oppression carried out against ethnic and religious minorities in Africa, Europe and India – to cite a few examples. The article attempts to explore if there has been a change of attitude towards the usage of elitism and elite power in India in the 21st society. The article seeks to find out an alternative route to elitist hegemony. It suggests that if the world is to live in peace and resolve some of the most pressing socio-economic issues of the present century, it needs to reform or transform.
Keywords: elite power; elitism; India; justice; minority.
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