Allport held that elites propagate prejudice to secure exploitative gains

Evidence

Adopting a broad perspective, Allport observed that “there lies at the heart of any diversified and stratified social system the tempting possibility that economic, sexual, political, and status gains may result from the deliberate (and even from unconscious) exploitation of minorities. To achieve these gains prejudice is propagated by those who stand to win the most advantage” (p. 234). Although his own definition of prejudice was restricted to prejudice as antipathy, this functional view of prejudice – prejudice as “rationalized exploitation” (p. 209) – is compatible with social-structural conceptions of prejudice, which suggest that prejudice has mutated in the wake of changing social mores to involve a blend of negative affect and individualistic values (Sears), can manifest itself as an ostensibly benevolent paternalism that perpetuates inequality and exploitation ( Jackman), and reflects negative responses to deviations from traditional stereotypic roles and characteristics that serve to reinforce the status quo (Eagly & Diekman; Rudman). — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 118

Categorization

• XREF: Functional/exploitation view of prejudice foreshadows modern system-justification and paternalistic racism (Jackman) claims already relevant to the vault’s antisemitism cluster.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 118