Book SummaryThe Power Elite, by C. Wright Mills

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Power Elite

In The Power Elite, American sociologist C. Wright Mills claims that the United States is controlled by a small group of powerful economic, military, and political elites. By consolidating wealth and power over time, these “power elites” have exploited American institutions for their own benefit. Now, they’re unaccountable to the people and free to act as immorally as they please. Writing in 1956, Mills suggests that the decisions, failures, and successes of the power elite are what truly determine the course of the United States.

Our guide to The Power Elite will explore how this group solidified its rule over the United States as well as how the American people have lost the ability to impact political change. Through our commentary, we’ll further explore American history that informs (or challenges) Mills’s theory—both before and after the book’s publication in 1956. We’ll also offer alternative theories that try to explain the relationship between power, American institutions, and the public.

(Shortform note: To understand Mills’s goal in writing The Power Elite, it helps to understand how he views sociology as a field. In his later work The Sociological Imagination, Mills outlines a theory of [sociology as a tool to bridge...

The Power Elite Summary Part 1: Defining the Power Elite

To start off, we’ll explore how Mills defines the power elite—who they are and how they operate. According to Mills, the power elite are leaders in business, the military, and politics who have outsized influence on the country. These elites aren’t stuck in one particular sphere, but instead often transition from private companies to government positions and back again throughout their careers. What truly defines the power elite then is less what they do and more how much influence they have over the economy, politics, and the lives of average Americans.

To elaborate on his definition, Mills emphasizes three aspects of the power elite: social coordination, varying levels of competence, and a focus on money over morality.

Social Coordination

According to Mills, the power elite is a coordinated class rather than a bunch of disorganized and competing individuals. Besides working together in their professional lives, the power elite have a much deeper level of social integration. Most of the power elite go to the same exclusive preparatory schools and universities and join the same social clubs. These social institutions aren’t just symbols of prestige—they also...

The Power Elite Summary Part 2: The Creation of the Power Elite

After explaining who the power elite are, Mills then discusses how they came to control a majority of wealth and power in America. Mills says this process began after the American Civil War, as political and technological developments allowed businessmen, military generals, and politicians to exercise their influence more broadly. Those who took advantage of these developments gained enough power to shape their respective institutions, outcompete their rivals, and form a new national class of elites. In Part 2 of our guide, we’ll explore the three main institutions where Mills believes the power elite developed:

1. Corporations
2. The military
3. Civilian government

Institution #1: Corporations

1. Mills starts by discussing how an increasingly small number of corporations influence every aspect of life in America. This is the result of a long process of corporate centralization of wealth and power starting after the Civil War. Mills explores this process in three steps: competing to industrialize; shifting leadership to executives; and, finally, defining American life.

1) Competing to Industrialize

In the decades following the Civil War,...

The Power Elite Summary Part 3: The American People and Power

After discussing how the elite has consolidated power in America, Mills then explores how the American people have lost power. He argues that due to changes in media and political organization, many Americans feel powerless to influence their political circumstances—a situation that has contributed to a broad national sense of unease and loss of control. Mills suggests that this sense of unease can eventually lead to large-scale political violence.

In Part 3 of our guide, we’ll explore how the American people have traditionally exercised political power and how they’ve lost this power over time. In particular, we’ll look at the three main institutions that define the relationship between the American people and their political circumstances:

1. The media
2. Political organizations
3. Intellectuals

Institution #1: The Media

Mills argues that the growing centralization of the media has taken power and influence away from the American people. This centralization first occurred when new technologies like radio and television made it easier for a few people to reach many, while lax regulation allowed a few major corporations to dominate the media...

Shortform Exercise: Consider Your Political Influence

Consider how much political influence you have.

Do you feel like you have a say in the politics of your city? Your state or province? Your country overall? Why or why not?