Month: February 2023

Elitist, Weberian and Pluralist models discussed above talk about power originating from a variety of sources. These sources include personal qualities and merits, social standing, educational and professional qualifications, cultural and religious privileges, political and public authority, economic means, etc. No single base or source of power is taken as the primary or the only… Continue reading Marxian Perspective on Distribution of Power: Class Rule, Dominance and Hegemony

The Feminist perspective insists that society is male-dominated and power is normally exercised by males in their favour. Society is seen divided into two groups based on gender distinction. Feminists feel that biological distinction is used to create artificial distinctions in terms of material, intellectual and moral resources. Thus, males extend natural and biological distinctions… Continue reading Feminist Perspective on Distribution of Power

The corporatist theory relates to organized interests and their participation in the decisionmaking process. In a way, it focuses on the decision-making process that involves various groups. Dahl and Rose’s study mentioned above, adopted the decision-making approach. However, corporatism especially focuses on organized capital and labour and how the industrial relations between employer and trade… Continue reading Corporatist Perspective on Distribution of Power

Can the pluralist model of power distribution be relevant in the analysis of contemporary Indian situation? Pranab Bardhan has illustrated the influence of the dominant proprietary classes comprising the business–industrial class, rich farmers and landed proprietary class and the bureaucratic class on decision-making. Bardhan’s study excludes the possibility of pluralism as the basis of decision-making… Continue reading Application of the Pluralist Model in the Indian Context

One of the powerful refutations to the elite model comes from the pluralist model of power distribution. Pluralists find fault with the elite model because the latter confuses between power in one scope say, economic or intellectual or political as if, it leads to power over other scopes. For example, people having intellectual ability or… Continue reading Pluralist Perspective on Distribution of Power

In India, if one looks at the broad political spectrum, it appears that after independence the nature and composition of elites have undergone change. During the British period, there were limited choices and areas where elite formation or elite recruitment could take place, even though, after 1858, educational, business, professional and employment opportunities under the… Continue reading Application of Elite Theory in the Indian Context

The elitist perspective on distribution of power recognizes diversification of power amongst a variety of intelligent, qualified, skilled, meritorious and distinguished persons. These people belong to different aspects of life—political, social, economic, religious, spiritual, educational, intelligentsia, etc. It maintains that power is diversified and distributed amongst those who are of exceptional qualities, intelligence and skill.… Continue reading Elitist Perspective on Distribution of Power

We have noted that in the liberal perspective, power distribution is assigned the role of conflict resolution and resource allocation. The state is viewed as neutral agency and working for the betterment of all. Power is used for the purpose of redistribution and welfare, peace, law and order, and mediation amongst variety of interested groups.… Continue reading Liberal and Functionalist Perspectives on Distribution of Power

We have noted that in the liberal perspective, power distribution is assigned the role of conflict resolution and resource allocation. The state is viewed as neutral agency and working for the betterment of all. Power is used for the purpose of redistribution and welfare, peace, law and order, and mediation amongst variety of interested groups.… Continue reading Liberal and Functionalist Perspectives on Distribution of Power

We have noted earlier that the liberal view of politics treats power as a means through which authoritative allocation of resources in society is made, conflict is resolved through negotiation and persuasion and influence is exercised. This necessarily involves the question of how is power in a society distributed and how does its distribution affect… Continue reading Perspectives on Distribution of Power