Rethinking Elites and Democracy

This chapter explores the Italian School of Elitism through the works of Pareto, Mosca, and Michels, examining the inevitability of elites within political structures. It emphasizes the importance of holding leaders accountable and the challenges presented by oligarchic tendencies in representative politics. By contrasting Italian and Anglo-American perspectives on democracy, the discussion highlights the complexities of electoral democracy and the risks associated with conflating elections with true democratic representation.