Research Paper on:
C. Wright Mills/ 'The Power Elite'

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
transcend the ordinary environments of ordinary men and women" (1956, p. 1-2). These are the people who rule the "big corporations," run the machinery of government and direct the military  establishment (p. 4). Mills basic premise is that in this particular era, "a conjunction of historical circumstances has led to the rise of an elite of power" and  that the men who compose this "elite" either make decisions, or by their failure to make decisions, create situations that carry more consequences for more people than has "ever been  the case in the world history of mankind" (p. 28). In supporting this premise, Mills offers a well-written, highly researched text that draws from multiple academic sources. Additionally,  the "notes" section of the book makes it clear that, in addition to quantitative studies, Mills also conducted qualitative research, in the form of interviews and observations. For example, in  chapter 2, Mills draws largely on his own research and relates that he conducted interviews in dozens of middle-sized cities in the Northeast, the Mid-West, and the South (p. 367).  There is a heavy reliance on qualitative research because, as Mills points out, national surveys are too all-encompassing to present significant information on the numerically fine groups that compose  the American elite (p. 363). The very "top of modern society" is frequently inaccessible, and the bottom is often hidden, leaving only the middle class as a readily available source  of study (p. 363). Nevertheless, Mills asserts that this should not be a factor in whether or not this topic should be studied and, in fact, he offers a thorough  examination of the topic despite the difficulties involved. The picture that Mills paints of these powerful men is that they have enormous power, but no accompanying judgement to