What is the power elite from the outside?

What would the Power elite look like?

This photo shows three men, Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping, standing next to each other in a formal setting. The picture is very balanced, with the three leaders right in the middle so you look at them first. All three men wear almost the same dark suits, which makes them look like they belong to the same group. They are standing straight with serious faces, showing they are following official rules rather than just chatting. In the background, you can see parts of a large building and other officials far away. This helps show that these three men are the most important people in the room.

This picture was taken during a meeting called the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Beijing in 2014. News companies around the world took this photo to show a big moment in global politics. Photos like this are common at big meetings. They are used to show the world if leaders are getting along or if there is tension. The people who take these photos, like journalists from news agencies, want to create a picture that shows who is in charge. This helps everyone see that these specific people are the ones making big decisions for many countries.

In the book The Power Elite, C. Wright Mills says that power in modern society is held by three main groups: the government, big companies, and the military. He calls the people at the top of these groups the power elite. These people are not like everyone else because they hold positions that allow them to make choices that affect the whole world. Mills explains that these leaders often come from the same social circles and move between different jobs in the government and business world. This helps them keep their high status and influence over society.

When we look at this photo through Mills’ ideas, we can see that these three men are at the very top of their political groups. Their similar clothes and the way they stand together show what Mills calls the higher circles. This is a small group of powerful people who share a similar lifestyle and level of respect. This photo helps us understand power in a sociological way because it shows that authority comes from the job a person holds, not just who they are. While most people live their daily lives, the men in this picture hold positions where they can make decisions that change the lives of millions of people.

References

Mills, C. Wright. [1956] 2002. The Power Elite. New York: Oxford University Press.

Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping at APEC 2014. November 10, 2014. From Associated Press. Retrieved April 16, 2026 (https://www.apimages.com).