Auwalu Musa

Abstract

Classical elite theory explains political power as concentrated in the hands of a relatively small ruling minority, but its traditional emphasis on cohesive and hierarchical elites is less adequate for analysing contemporary governance characterised by networks, institutional complexity and expanded public participation. This paper develops the Inverted Pyramid Model as a neo-elite framework for explaining how broad political participation can coexist with persistent elite control. The study adopts a qualitative research design based on secondary data from scholarly literature, policy documents and relevant empirical studies, analysed through thematic desk analysis. The findings indicate that contemporary democratic systems may expand opportunities for electoral participation, civil society engagement and media expression without producing proportional influence over substantive policy decisions. Political power therefore appears broadly distributed at the participatory level while remaining concentrated within interconnected formal and informal elite networks. The Inverted Pyramid Model captures this apparent contradiction by distinguishing between the breadth of participation and the depth of decision-making power. The paper argues that democratic inclusion does not necessarily guarantee equal political influence, particularly where institutional structures, economic resources, elite networks and informal mechanisms shape access to decision-making. It concludes that the model extends classical elite theory by providing a context-sensitive explanation of the coexistence of mass participation and elite dominance, while highlighting the importance of institutional accountability, transparency and meaningful civic engagement.

   

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Published: 2026

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