The white-dominated apartheid government in south africa, which held power until 1994, is an example of a society best explained by:

Elite theory (or elite approach)

Elite theory in socio-political thought holds that a certain small group within a society are better equipped than the rest of the people for the task of governing society. The elite approach has shown itself in history in the rule by an aristocracy, or "rule by the excellent ones" - - when those considered to come from noble family lines were seen as the leaders of society. In South Africa, whites were seen as superior to blacks and therefore white rule was held in force until movements against apartheid finally brought down that system. The white population in South Africa was less than 15% during that period, but they controlled the country until 1994.