BURNHAM’S MANAGERIAL ELITE –“Burnham identified the new elite as the men “able

BURNHAM’S MANAGERIAL ELITE

–“Burnham identified the new elite as the men “able to control contemporary mass industry, the massed labor force, and a supra-national form of political organization.” He assumed that this control could be exercised by means of a compelling political formula. So, rational behavior for the elite would be to get the masses to accept unscientific myths. If they failed to sustain beliefs in the myths, the fabric of society would crack and they would be overthrown. In short, the leaders—if they themselves were scientific—must lie.”–

Burnham was right. Except, that the alternative was not to possess a supra-national political organization, but to prohibit them entirely. The purpose of the large state was war – a creation of Napoleon.