neo-Machiavellians

neo-Machiavellians

a term sometimes applied to the group of political sociologists and political theorists, especially PARETO, MOSCA, and MICHELS, who in an analogous way to MACHIAVELLI, prided themselves on their ‘realistic’ analysis of political power, e.g. emphasis on the role of élites. See also ÉLITE, ÉLITE THEORY.