Page 178 - DSOC401_SOCIOLOGICAL_THOUGHT_ENGLISH

Sociological Thought

notes as compared to others. Pareto in his theory is inspired by Michaels. Michaels was originally German
but had permanently settled in Italy. He has put forward his theory in the ruling class. His theory
is that leaders of older age slowly are defamed, their prestige starts declining and they start leaving
their place for younger blood. With such change, society remains systematic.
In lines of Michaels, Pareto has found two groups in complete elite- (1) Ruling Elites and (2) non- ruling
elites. In both these groups, like a cycle, old people go and new elites come. Like this the foundation
of the theory of circulation of elites is that ruling elites become weak or they are made weak and their
place is taken by the new elites. This is the cycle. It is many a times also known as circulation of elites.
In these two groups of elites there are two types of elites. Pareto calls one type of elite as Fox. Bu fox
he means one who is clever, cunning, deceptive and deceitful. When Pareto uses the word Fox, he
always means those people who are clever and cunning. In Sanskrit literature, stories of Hitopadesha
are mainly associated with animals. Of these animals, fox is considered to be the most clever and
cunning. In one story of Hitopadesha, when a Brahmin frees a lion locked inside a cage, he becomes
eager to eat the same Brahmin. Here fox is made the judge. And look at the cleverness of the fox. He
says that he again wants to see the lion inside the cage so that he may believe that such big lion was
actually fit inside the small cage. On his advise when lion re-enters the cage, fox closes the door of
the cage. Fox is clever, is cunning.
Such elites who jump and throw away like a fox, for power, they push the elite enjoying the power.
Those elite who are in the council or have the power Pareto calls them Lion. There is one attribute
of Lion. They sit firmly on whatever power they have. These elites sitting on the throne of power
are actually “human –lions” and they use their entire strength to maintain their council. In Pareto’s
theory, both the fox and the lion are elites. Both look at the power with greed. Now Human –Lion is
in power and after sometime, fox meaning clever and cunning elites will push them from the council.
This is the Pareto’s theory of circulation. This is the rotation of elites. There is only one fate of elite.
Whether it is human-lion or fox, both have to leave the throne for each other. The fundamental of this
theory of circulation is that only elite will rule the society. Whether the elite is today’s human-Lion
or tomorrow’s fox.

Task How many types of elites are there? Describe briefly.

criticism

Many sociologists have criticised the theory of circulation of elites. Comments done on this theory
are present in the below points:
1. Generally there is equality maintained in the society. The one ruling it will be elite only.
Today’s elite will be dismissed from his post then new elite will come tomorrow.

Did You Know? Pareto’s theory of circulation is Ex parte in a meaning that it does not accept
the fact that few groups of the public which are extremely poor may also
come to power with the help of majority of votes.

172 LoVeLY professionaL uniVersitY