Freedom, Society, and State - Ludwig von Mises Institute

oft his eve r rea c h e s the poor. M0 s t of i t get s eaten
upin bur e a u eratic 0 ve r heador s' i ph 0 ned 0 f f by Pr i vat e
contractors.(64)
We can now conclude this chapter. According to
the anarchist caste analysis the upper classes are able
to use their wealth to capture control of government.
They are then able to use the coercive arm of government
to institutional.ize their positions. In this proces
s econom i c and social mobil i ty becomes more
restricted as the economic class congeals into a political
caste. This holds true, according to the theory,
regardless of the type of government.
Although dictatorships are more castel ike than democracies,
the evidence does indicate support for the
anarchist position. Neither political parties nor interest
groups have prevented a rUling elite from emergi
n g • Wh i lethis eli t e i s not c ompietel y c losed, i t
does appear to be relatively permanent enough to be
termed castelike, if not actually a caste. And finally,
evidence was adduced which indicates that this
elite does "enjoy the advantages that power brings."
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