The New Elite: The Death of Democracy

by David Lebedoff

Lebedoff, a former treasurer of Minnesota's Democratic-FarmerLabor Party, views this New Elite strictly from the vantage of partisan politics. He is troubled by what he regards as a direct attack on... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0531098540
• ISBN13: 9780531098547
• Release Date: January 1981
• Publisher: Franklin Watts
• Length: 194 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Still rings true after 20 years

The title of this book appears to have led George Walden to write his recent work "The New Elites", analysing the British political scene in the year 2000. David Lebedoff writes in 1981, just after the election of Ronald Reagan to the White House. His thesis is that control of politics has passed out of the hands of the majority in part as a consequence of the development of a body he identifies as "the new elite", whose self identity is based not on ties to a specific community, but on a common reference to "scientific" measurement of intelectual capacity by grade scores and class achievements. This, he contends, drives an anti-majoritarian urge, which removes control from the hands of the electorate. The "new elites" do not accept the principle that all others are entitled to a valid and meaningful vote on issues which concern all of society. In summary, old, but worth reading. Would be interesting to see an updated version.