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Sukanya Das, Lovely Professional University Unit-30: Theory of Social Changes- Types of Elite Classification, Circulation of Elite

unit-30: theory of social changes- types of elite notes
Classification, Circulation of Elite

contents
Objectives
Introduction
30.1 Subject Matter
30.2 Summary
30.3 Keywords
30.4 Review Questions
30.5 Further Reading

objectives

After studying this unit, the students will be able to:
y Know about Pareto’s principle of circulation of social changes,
y Perception of rotation of the elite group.

introduction

In every era and society, usually two main classes- the upper class and the lower class are seen. Might
and power lies in the hands of the upper class and usually they are the rulers of the society.

30.1 subject matter

As per Pareto, in each social organisation there is a spread of inequality and it happens broadly
between two classes- the upper class and the lower class. Of these, none is stable, instead, circular
movement is found in them. By circular movement it is meant that, in society, between these two
groups, continuously top to bottom of downhill and bottom to top or uphill flow keeps happening.
In clearer manner, circular movement may be explained in this manner that the group which is in
the upper part of the social organization, that, with time, because of becoming adulterous, loses its
post and prestige. In other words, elite class, by losing its attributes or being unsuccessful, comes
down. On the other side, in order to fill those vacant places, which intelligent, skilled, virtuous and
eligible people are there in the lower class, they keep coming from the bottom to the top. Like this, the
process of coming of the upper class in the lower class or of their destruction and of the lower class
going into the upper class, keeps happening in a circular manner. Because of this circular movement,
social structure changes or social changes happen. That is why it is called the “principle of circular
movement” or “circular principle of social changes.”

Notes Remember that this circular movement or speed of social changes sometimes
increases and sometimes decreases as per the situation. At different times, speed
of social changes is also different.

LoVeLY professionaL uniVersitY 169