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An Introduction to Power Structure Research

Why use Power Structure Research? Because it helps to mobilize and educate people to challenge unequal power and privilege. Conspiracy theory, on the other hand, undermines movements for progressive social change; avoids challenging the structures, institutions, and systems of unfair power and oppression; and distracts attention away from the real culprits. Real social change requires hard work, not surreal Internet gossip.

Read more about the failures of conspiracy theory as an analytical model.

The most complete online interactive set of information about the relationships between conservative and right-wing funders and political power in America is at the Media Matters website:

Who's funding the Conservative Movement?

The Media Matters website uses power structure research and network analysis. Much of the early work was carried out by progressive researchers such as Sara Diamond, Jean Hardisty, Russ Bellant, Fred Goff, Holly Sklar, G. William Domhoff, and others. Also the work of several organizations that pioneered studies of conservative power, including The Data Center, Political Research Associates, National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, and others. The extensive online database was originated by Media Transparency, now acquired by Media Matters. Much of this research is often attributed solely to Rob Stein, based on his fundraising slide show that synthesized this earlier research.

Power Structure Research Resources

Researchers with Guides for Doing Power Structure Research

    G. William Domhoff: Power Structure Research and the Hope for Democracy Val Burris: Internet Guide to Power Structure Research

    Authors Who Use Power Structure Research

    C. Wright Mills

    • Mills, C. Wright, The Power Elite, New York: Oxford University Press, 1956.

    G. William Domhoff

    • Domhoff, G. William, The Powers That Be: Processes of Ruling Class Domination in America, (New York: Vintage Books, 1979, [1978]);
    • Domhoff, G. William, Who Rules America Now: A View for the ‘80’s, (New York: Touchstone/Simon & Schuster, 1986, [1983])

    Holly Sklar

    • Sklar, Holly (Ed.). (1980). Trilateralism: The Trilateral Commission and Elite Planning for World Management. Boston: South End Press.
    • Sklar, Holly. (1986). Reagan, Trilateralism and the Neoliberals: Containment and Intervention in the 1980s. Pamphlet No. 4. Boston: South End Press.
    • Sklar, Holly. (1995). Chaos or Community?: Seeking Solutions, Not Scapegoats for Bad Economics. Boston: South End Press.
    • Sklar, Holly. (1995). “The Dying American Dream and the Snake Oil of Scapegoating.” In Chip Berlet (Ed.), Eyes Right! Challenging the Right Wing Backlash (pp. 113–134). Boston: South End Press.

    Groups that Use Power Structure Research

    How Organized Wealth Rules: Elites, the State, and Blocking Progress

    Conservative and right-wing elites work with both the state apparatus and right-wing countermovements to repress and block action for progressive social change

    This Bibliography of books contains those works that discuss how conservative and right-wing countermovements work with elites and state actors to blunt gains and demands made by labor, left, women's, environmental, and gay groups in the United States. It's just a partial list

    Roots of Researching Right-Wing Power

    Applied Power Structure Research

    Here are the covers of some of the classics:

    How Harvard Rules NACLA Who Rules America

    [This Section Under Construction]

    Sociology

    Influenced by Rousseau, Marx, & Durkheim

    Student Power Movement

    How Harvard Rules

    U.S. Foreign Policy

    NACLA

    Race

    Gender

    Class

    Specific Models

    • Frankfurt School
    • Alinskyism - Industrial Areas Foundation
      • What's Good, What's Not
    • Midwest Academy
    • Social Movement Theory
    • Critical Race Theory
    • Critical Feminist Theory
    • Deep Ecology Theory
    • Critical Social Theory
    • Critical Legal Theory
    • Critical Queer Theory
    • Libertarian Socialism

    Pioneers

    A Partial List

    • George Seldes
    • I.F. Stone
    • C. Wright Mills
    • Forester & Epstein
    • Gordon Hall & Grace Hoag
    • Richard Hofstadter
    • G. William Domhoff
    • Michael Paul Rogin
    • Counterspy Magazine
    • Sasha Gregory Lewis 1975
    • NACLA
    • R2N2
    • Steve Fanchuken
    • Sara Miles
    • Public Eye Network
    • Covert Action Information Bulletin
    • Jerome Himmelstein
    • Kathleen Blee
    • The Black Scholar
    • South End Press
      • Z Magazine
      • Z Media Institute
    • National Anti-Klan Network
    • Applied Research Center
    • Loretta Ross
    • Jean Hardisty 1979
    • Political Research Associates
    • Southern Exposure
    • Center for Democratic Renewal
    • Data Center
    • Holly Sklar
    • Fred Clarkson
    • Suzanne Pharr
    • Urvashi Vaid
    • Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment
    • Coalition for Human Dignity
    • Leonard Zeskind
    • Daniel Levitas
    • Russ Bellant
    • Sara Diamond:
      • Spiritual Warfare
      • Roads to Dominion, 1990

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

Tweet Suggestions

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@tcgriffinTom Griffin
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Introduction to Power Structure Research

Democracy is a process,
not a specific set of institutions

Democracy is a process that assumes
the majority of people, over time,
given enough accurate information,
and the ability to participate
in a free and open public debate,
reach constructive decisions
that benefit the whole of society, and
preserve liberty,
protect our freedoms,
extend equality, and
defend democracy.