Brazilian political elites: a proposal for an approach

Abstract

The article reviews Vilfredo Pareto’s propositions, with the “circulation of elites” theory; Gaetano Mosca’s, with the “political class” theory, and Robert Michels’, with the “iron law of the oligarchies” theory, review made with the aim of formulating a new approach, which considers the contributions and criticisms of these authors along with the contemporary need for perfecting and improving modern democracies. We seek to go beyond the statement so present in the contemporary political debate – “this is because of the elites” – to answer questions hidden behind such reductionism, as who is part of the political elite, what are their characteristics are and how their members are recruited.