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It is the coincidence of these two phenomena which creates elites in any group and makes them so difficult to break.

In a Structured group, two or more such friendship networks usually compete with each other for formal power.

**This is often the healthiest situation, as the other members are in a position to arbitrate between the two competitors for power** and thus to make demands on those to whom they give their temporary allegiance.

Once the informal patterns are formed they act to maintain themselves, and **one of the most successful tactics of maintenance is to continuously recruit new people who "fit in."** One joins such an elite much the same way one pledges a sorority.

If perceived as a potential addition, one is "rushed" by the members of the informal structure and eventually either dropped or initiated.

All of these procedures take time. So if one works full time or has a similar major commitment, it is usually impossible to join simply because there are not enough hours left to go to all the meetings and cultivate the personal relationship necessary to have a voice.

** ayc's personal thought: Being "busy" is a way of signaling harmlessness. Making up or looking for bullshit-job like work for yourself makes you less of a threat.

When informal elites are combined with a myth of "structurelessness," there can be no attempt to put limits on the use of power. It becomes capricious