The Theory of Elites and the Question of Democracy

Autor polazi od konstatacije da je teorija elita i elitizam u suvremenoj sociologiji najviše — ako ne i isključivo — prisutna na tri disciplinarna područja: na području sociologije kulture, na području političke sociologije, te na području analize socijalne strukture d socijalnih konflikata. Na svim tim područjima ona je blisko povezana sa srodnim filozofskim disciplinama, a to znači s filozofijom kulture, političkom filozofijom i socijalnom filozofijom. Dok klasični teoretičari elita svode povijest društva na borbu elita za vlast, neoelitisti hvale pluralističko natjecateljski aranžman vlasti.The author states that the theory of elites and elitism in the contemporary sociology is mostly, if not exclusively, present in three disciplinary fields: in sociology of culture, in sociology of politics as well as in the analysis of social structure and social conflicts. It is also closely connected with related philosophical disciplines, i.e. with philosophy of culture, political philosophy and social philosophy. While classical theoreticians of elites identify the history of society with elites struggle for power, the neoelitists on the other hand, praise the organization of government of pluralistic and competitive character