C Wright Mills' interlock of elites

 

C. Wright Mills explored the concept of the interlock of elites. Mills argued that power in modern societies is concentrated in the hands of a small group of individuals who are interconnected through various institutions and networks. One example of this can be found in the elite education system in the United Kingdom, which includes schools like Eton College. Eton, like many other elite schools, has produced a disproportionate number of leaders in politics, business, and other fields. Mills saw this as evidence of the way in which elites maintain their power through the reproduction of their own class. The connections and shared experiences of Eton's alumni, he argued, create a tight network of influence that allows them to control key institutions and maintain their dominance. For Mills, the interlock of elites was a key factor in understanding the nature of power in modern societies and the challenges facing democratic movements seeking to challenge that power.