Category: Policy History & Long-Term Outcomes Blog
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Elite Privilege, Power Networks, and Accountability — How Concentrated Influence Tests Democratic Stability
I. Introduction – When Power and Accountability Drift Apart In every functioning democracy, trust rests on a simple but powerful expectation: the rules apply to everyone. When people believe that laws, consequences, and expectations are enforced fairly, institutions maintain legitimacy. But when a growing number of citizens begin to feel that power, wealth, or connections…