What is classical elitism
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Classical Elitism
Pareto and Mosca have similar views regarding the elite of a society, some might say that they are co-founders of the political elite theory. "Their" theory reputedly attempts to discredit the Marxian theory, that elites were a function of a class divided society. They supposedly argued that the rule of the few over the many was inevitable in all societies.
Pareto in particular developed an idea that there were two types of elite: "lions"-who rule by force and coercion, and another group; the "foxes" who rule by cunning, stealth and persuasion. He argued that all were born with a natural disposition to be either a "ruler" or a "follower". The masses, known in this theory as the "paretoare" (in contrast to Marxist proles), are therefore regarded as unfit to govern, they are the followers, because they are "inarticulate" and "apathetic". The type of social elitism that Pareto applies is therefore distinguished between the personal distinctive qualities of each group, that "lions" will use force, and "foxes" will use political ploys and persuasion to achieve or sustain power. But despite the power that these groups may gain, through any means, there are inherent weaknesses in these groups; the lions lack the cunning, the foxes lack the power of coercion. Therefore Pareto presents this idea that there will be a "circulation of elites" whereby both types of group constantly replace each other over time.
Pareto thus suggests that democracy is not a progressive government that these constant rivalries set back the transmission of a political system into something "better" and thus is quite dismissive of democracy, it just being "another form of elite rule"...