E264 - Democracy’s Elite Problem w/ Hugo Drochon
Summary
Hosts Danny Bessner and Derek Davison interview political theorist Hugo Drachon about his book *Elites and Democracy*. They explore early 20th-century elite theorists like Mosca, Pareto, and Michels, discussing concepts such as the circulation of elites and the iron law of oligarchy. The conversation connects these historical frameworks to modern political shifts, including populism, Brexit, and the Trump era, analyzing how elite competition drives democratic change.
Topics discussed
Introduction: The role of elites in democracy
Populism vs. Circulation of Elites
Vilfredo Pareto and Gaetano Mosca
Political trajectories and Mosca's legacy
Marxism and historical transformation
Pareto's Lions and Foxes theory
Defining elites and Italian context
Mechanisms of elite circulation and change
Robert Michels and the Iron Law of Oligarchy
Michels, Fascism, and Direct Democracy
Schumpeter's minimalist democracy and creative destruction
C. Wright Mills and Robert Dahl in the US
Modern elite failure and Trump's rise
Foreign policy institutions and elite stagnation
European perspective and conclusion
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