Types of

Community Power
Structure
 Community Power
Structures
– Are hierarchical interrelationships that
govern the interaction among
individuals within a localized group
settings.
 Power Actors
– Interacting individuals involved in
community power structures
 Different Types
of Community Power
Structures
 1. Pluralist
– In this type of community power
structure ,power becomes an attribute of an
individual and it is widely distributed within
the members of the community, hence
making every member roughly equal in
influence.
 2. Elitist
– In this type of community power structure, power
generally conforms to the system of hierarchical
stratification and is associated with those who
possess corporate wealth and prestige due to
traditional or religious authority.
Pyramid Power Structure
– It is essentially top-down leadership, with
all the segments of the community
subordinated to those who belong to the
apex of power
Two Subtypes of Elitism:
a. Class-based Theory of Power
- In this type, power belongs to those who
control the economic system of the
community, or is distributed to those who are
able to accumulate capital.
b. The Growth Machine
– This is a variation of class-based theory
of power where a coalition of groups
exists. They perceived community
growth as economic gain for themselves.
 Upper 702,822 Annual Per
Class(0.1 % Capita
or 21K
families)

Middle Class(25.2 % or 4.7

M families)

57,396 Annual per Capita

Lower Class ( 74.3% or 14 M families)

16,872 Annual per Capita

Income Poor Only (12.6 % or 2.5 M families)

Food Poor (7.9 % or 1.55 M families) 11,773 Annual per Capita

3. Factional
– In this type, of community power structure,
power resides in numerous interest groups
that hold relatively equal power, but they are
struggling to control or dominate in
influence in community affairs.
 4. Amorphous
– This refers to a seeming absence of an
identifiable power structure in some
communities. Although power actors exist, they
are often satisfied with the status quo such that
they are called “ Sleeping Giants”