Against Elite Theory - Benjamin Studebaker - Substack
bmstudebaker.substack.com
This essay challenges Elite Theory at its root — arguing that assuming politics still "happens" leads theorists to hunt for puppet-masters who may not exist.
Elite TheoryIron Law of OligarchyPower Structure TheoryPluralism
Theory Briefing
- Elite Theory assumes politics is always being directed by someone, so theorists race to identify who holds the strings.
- Studebaker argues this premise is flawed — if political agency has collapsed, elite theory finds villains in a vacuum.
- The critique echoes Iron Law of Oligarchy debates: are elites truly in control, or is the system running on autopilot?