Which concept argues that elites manipulate symbols and feelings of identity for political mobilization?

The concept that asserts elites manipulate symbols and feelings of identity for political mobilization is instrumentalism. This theory emphasizes the idea that social identities, such as ethnicity or nationalism, are not strictly innate or fixed. Instead, they are seen as tools that can be strategically used by elite groups to mobilize support, consolidate power, and achieve specific political objectives. Instrumentalism highlights the agency of these elites in shaping collective identities and the ways in which they leverage cultural symbols to influence groups for political gain.

In contrast, other concepts like functionalism focus more on the roles that social structures and institutions play in maintaining social stability, and they do not primarily concentrate on the manipulative agency of elites. Emotionalism is not widely recognized within academic discourse as a distinct theory related to political mobilization, and postcolonialism primarily examines the legacies of colonialism and its impact on identities, rather than how elites use symbols for manipulation. Thus, instrumentalism best encapsulates the notion of elite-driven manipulation of identity for political purposes.