How the Powerful Stay in Control: And what we can do about it

From Aristocracy to Modern Elites: Strategies of Power Preservation and the Manipulation of Masses
This online zoom conversation will explore the historical decline of aristocratic power in the 18th and 19th centuries and its relevance to the strategies employed by today’s elites to maintain their dominance.

The discussion could examine why the aristocracy of the past lacked the tools to resist the rise of socialist movements and democracy, in contrast to modern elites who use sophisticated mechanisms like media control, propaganda, and lobbying.

It could also question where elites learn to safeguard their interests, asking whether there are specific institutions or networks that teach them how to maintain power.

Additionally, the conversation will seek to explore the symbiotic relationship between elites and the masses, acknowledging that while the system grants certain freedoms (like freedom of speech), it remains skewed in favour of the elites, but a better system may not be possible and we can discuss if any system change would always have an Animal Farm ending

We can also discus if the The solution may not be to break the system but to adjust the inequality within it ensuring a more balanced distribution of power without dismantling the overall structure. This may represent a stronger stance for activism, as breaking elite power structures may be nearly impossible—any movement or startup that gains significant traction is hunted down and shut down. However, with enough public pressure, greater equality within the current structure could be achievable, as it may be allowed or acceptable to the elites since it wouldn’t threaten their overall dominance.