The Power Elite

In the mid-20th century, a power elite in the US makes decisions that have “more consequences for more people than has ever been the case in the world history of mankind” (28). Even when this group and its members decide not to act, there are substantial consequences. This elite class is comprised of the top echelon in the economy, politics, and the military. The growth and centralization of institutional units in these sectors consolidated enormous power in the hands of a few hundred giant corporations, an executive establishment in government, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The leaders of these sectors shape religious, educational, and family institutions. Moreover, they form a triangle of power with interlocking ties.

Mills emphasizes that this elite tier exercises power only within and through institutions, such as corporations and the military. It accumulates means, money, influence, and status, and its members form a social and psychological entity or social class. There is no landed aristocracy in the US to challenge this elite class’s position, and its members sustain their position by marrying one another and attending the same schools and clubs. Mills notes that social unity and lifestyle are key factors in understanding this group.