Final answer:
Mariah suggested that society has different interest groups that ensure a small ruling elite, aligning with elite theory that proposes a powerful minority controls societal outcomes, in contrast to pluralist theory that views power as distributed and contested among diverse groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mariah's controversial statement that society is comprised of different interest groups all bent on ensuring that a small group of people rule the majority can be viewed through the lens of sociopolitical theories such as the elite theory and pluralism. The elite theory of government posits that a select power elite controls much of the society, with figures like C. Wright Mills describing this group as those who use government to develop policies that maintain their wealth. In stark contrast, pluralist theory argues that power does not rest with a single elite but is instead distributed among a multitude of competing groups, with no single group able to dominate the political landscape completely.
This concept of elite dominance in politics is supported by the work of political scientists like Martin Gilens who observed that governmental policies tend to favor the wealthy, especially when the interests of the poor and the wealthy clash. E. E. Schattschneider similarly highlighted the disproportionate influence of the upper class, while Mancur Olson pointed out that small groups and those with economic advantages are better positioned to overcome collective action problems. G. William Domhoff further illustrates the social patterns of the power elite and their influence in society. Conversely, scholars like Robert Dahl viewed the multiple access points to government in the U.S. system as facilitating the involvement of a diverse array of interest groups, which in his opinion, is beneficial for democracy.