What is gaetano mosca?

Gaetano Mosca (1858-1941) was an Italian political scientist and sociologist, known for his theory of the "political class" and for being a leading exponent of the elitist theory of democracy. Mosca was born in Palermo, Sicily, and studied law at the University of Palermo before becoming a professor of constitutional law at the University of Rome.

Mosca was one of the founders of the Italian school of political science, and his main work, "The Ruling Class", published in 1896, established him as a leading figure in the discipline. In this work, Mosca argued that every society is characterized by a ruling class that holds power and influence, and that this class is perpetuated over time by various means, such as education, inheritance, and control of the media.

Mosca's ideas about the ruling class, or "political class", influenced the development of political science and sociology in the early 20th century. He believed that democracy was a necessary form of government, but also argued that it depended on the existence of political elites who could organize and lead society. Mosca's elitist theory of democracy, which emphasized the role of the elite in shaping political systems, continues to be debated and critiqued among political scholars.