Structurally, by reason of their smaller numbers and greater resources, virtually all ruling classes enjoy an advantage over the ruled in their capacity for collective action. Their internal lines of communication are more compact; their wealth offers an all-purpose medium of power, convertible into any number of forms of domination; their intelligence systems scan the political landscape from a greater height. More numerous and more dispersed, less equipped materially, less armed culturally, subordinate classes always tend, in the sociologist Michael Mann’s phrase, to be ‘organisationally outflanked . Perry Anderson
About This Quote

In other words, the ruling class is more powerful than the ruled, which means that even if a group of people want to do something to improve their life, they have to find a way around the system that is in place. In order to do that, they don’t have to come up with a plan to improve their lives. All they have to do is join forces with others and begin acting together. This quote says that because of their power and influence, the ruling class is able to form groups and communicate more efficiently while also being able to recognize patterns and recognize when other groups are forming up. The set-up makes it easier for them to work together without having to take into consideration the needs of the ruled.

Source: The Indian Ideology

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