108 THE SOCIAL THEORY OF GEORG SIMMEL

the structure allows at the same time for the passage of
pressure from above downward, it means that the lower
circles will have to bear the whole brunt of any additional
pressure exerted anywhere along the line. Any additional
burdens and duties laid on the higher circles will then simply
 be passed on downward until they have been completely
 transferred to the lowest circle. Another situation
arises if the middle circles offer resistance to the passage
of pressure and completely sever the highest circle from
the lowest. In that case the isolating layer may in some
circumstances harm not only the lowest level, but also the
highest, while in different circumstances it may act as a
shockbreaker and a protection to both.!

Superiority and Subordination in Their Psychological
and Sociological Aspects
The quantity of superiority or subordination that exists
 within a group gives a distinct character to the group
as a whole. Societies which contain a great number of superior-inferior
 relations, either in the form of a sociological
pyramid or in the form of parallel and co-ordinated relationships,
 appear to have the general characteristics of
subordinate groups. The predominance of subordination
imposes its character on the group as a whole. This is, for
instance, the case in bureaucratic states.
That a society as a whole bears the characteristics of
a ruling group occurs only in rare instances. It is possible
only if the quality of superiority which elements possess in
relation to other elements comes to be conceived of as existing
 independently of that interrelation. That one is a
ruler presupposes a subject. But this logical requirement
can sometimes be dispensed with. A man may be a ruler
independently of the fact whether he rules or not, if he has

lL Soz.. pp. 177-86.