How Elite Groups Entrench Their Dominance Through Law and Economics?

Abstract

By studying the two periods in British history influenced by the Enlightenment movement, we can gain a deeper understanding of how elite groups solidify their dominance across various social contexts. Understanding the historical mechanisms of this entrenchment enables us to mitigate similar mistakes and risks in the future. We have analyzed some essays that explore how elite groups maintained their dominance during these two periods. Our findings reveal that in the 16th century, the monarch, who represented the elite at the time, used religion to consolidate their power. They achieved this by merging political and religious authorities, which subsequently led to the potential for abuses of power. We believe that such risks can be mitigated while still preserving the influence of the monarchy, by separating church and state but allowing the monarch to exert influence through a council. Under the capitalist society of the 19th century, research proved that elite groups consolidated their absolute power through legal regulations, economic limitations, and tax rates. The connection between and details within the case study is shown, along with further analysis of relating documents and societal issues worth discussing.