Administrative Background of Social Inequality: Elite Theory

Abstract

In social life, the concept of "inequality" has an important position in determining the shape of both individuals' relations with each other and their interactions with different communities. In particular, factors such as prestige, fame, wealth, income, profession, talent, race, ethnicity, gender and age affect the relations and social interactions of individuals with other individuals. In today's social structures, the effects of social and economic inequality provide unequal opportunities to different individuals within the group or groups that are a part of the society. These opportunities, which lead to inequality, cause some people to take a more active position in the decision-making process, depending on their access to respect and resources in the society. This effect, which puts individuals in a more effective position in decision-making processes, will not only result in the emergence of inequality, but also that power relations and power structures will be oriented in favour of certain people in society. The aim of this study is to describe the theoretical foundations of the elite theory, which is based on the balance between the rulers in the society and the ordinary people, both sociologically and administratively. The reasons and main causes of inequality between individuals who are part of societies, organizations and groups will be discussed with an inclusive perspective. The study aims to present a comprehensive analysis of the elite theory by combining the theoretical assumptions obtained from numerous studies on management and sociology literature.

Keywords

• elite theory
• elites
• inequality

Toplumsal Eşitsizliğin Yönetsel Temelleri: Elit (Seçkin) Kuramı

Abstract

Toplumsal yaşamda gerek bireylerin birbirleriyle olan ilişkilerinin, gerekse de farklı topluluklarla olan etkileşimlerinin şeklini tayin etmede, “eşitsizlik” unsuru önemli bir konuma sahiptir. Özellikle saygınlık, ün, servet, gelir, meslek, yetenek, ırk, etnik yapı, cinsiyet ve yaş gibi unsurlar bireylerin, diğer bireylerle olan münasebetlerini ve sosyal etkileşimlerini etkilemektedir. Günümüz toplumsal yapılarında, sosyal ve ekonomik açılardan eşitsizliğin etkileri, toplumun bir parçası konumunda olan grup veya gruplar içindeki farklı bireylere eşit olmayan fırsatlar sunmaktadır. Eşitsizliğe yol açan bu fırsatlar ise bir takım kişilerin, toplumdaki saygınlık ve maddi kaynaklara ulaşmasına bağlı olarak, karar verme sürecinde daha etkin bir konuma gelmelerine neden olur. Bireyleri karar verme süreçlerinde daha etkin bir konuma çıkaran bu etki sadece eşitsizliğin ortaya çıkmasında değil, aynı zamanda güç ilişkileri ve iktidar yapılarının da toplum içerisinde belirli kişiler lehine yönleneceği sonucunu yaratacaktır. Bu çalışmanın amacı toplumda yönetenler ile yönetilenler arasındaki dengeyi temel alan elit (seçkin) kuramının, gerek sosyolojik gerekse de yönetimsel açıdan kuramsal temellerini betimlemektir. Toplumlar, örgütler ve grupların bir parçası olan bireyler arasında ortaya çıkan eşitsizliğin gerekçeleri ve temel nedenleri kapsayıcı bir perspektifle ele alınacaktır. Çalışma yönetim ve sosyoloji yazınına yönelik çok sayıda çalışmadan elde edilmiş kuramsal varsayımları birleştirerek elit kuramına yönelik kapsamlı bir çözümleme sunmayı amaçlamaktadır.

Keywords

• elit kuramı
• seçkin kuramı
• elitler
• seçkinler
• eşitsizlik

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