Basically, here is my very rough theory. It takes certain personality traits to achieve a position of true and absolute power. You cannot attain these positions and hold them without these key sociopathic traits. Now to clarify the semantics this is what I mean by;

“a position of true and absolute power”

firstly these positions are not middle management, leadership positions in a mediumn sized business or anything of this manner. True power are positions in society where someone can single handedly control the outcomes of peoples lives financially, politically, or emotionally. These people may inhibit positions such as:

Banking CEO’s: people within these positions can at their own discretion pass on changes to banking methods that can lead to financial stress to the general population, can lead to homelessness (through unpayable loans as seen in the USA during the financial crisis) and are able to manipulate the overall economy through the direct manipulation of;

a) interest rates,
b) methods of selling loans
c) control of how and when loans are accessed.

Banking CEO’s are interconnected with Corporate CEO’s who also can manipulate the economy through the success or failure of a companies yearly profits, which leads to;

Corporate CEO’s: Multinational companies are able to dictate to some extent how products and services are;

a) developed
b) made
c) distributed
d) sold

Multinationals can also influence the strength of the economy of a nation by their decisions to either continue production within a specific country or shift production overseas. In the case of Agriculture, they can influence GDP with these decisions. An example of a country that has created wealth with the shift of sevices and production is India. It’s economy has been fueled by the influx of corporations shifting customer service business, and subsequently affecting the lives of those that have lost their jobs, and creating a new society with discretionary income in a new location.
Corporate CEO’s require a mouthpeice to sell these ideas, and shifts in production, someone who seems disconnected, or unbiased. This is the role of the Politician. “voted” in by the people, they are percieved as representing the needs of the population, but as is evident in the last Global finanical crisis Politicians, when it comes “to the crunch” do not listen to the general population. Large bailouts in the las GFC have been handed out even though voters disagreed. Another example recently is the Iraq war, which was entered into under false pretenses (this is a euphemism for what you and I would normally call “lies”). Our next position of “true power” are:

Politicians: politicians dictate and can manipulate party policy, and subsequently public opinion. The need for a politician to have some level of carisma is also an indication that there may be elements of sociopathy in their personality. Politicians are the mouthpeice between the sociopaths in corporations and Banks, and the general population. As has been seen with the recent Greenhouse gas emmisions issue, corporations are not interested in giving up short term profits for long term social gains (another symptom of a sociopath). Subsequently Politicians ammend laws and bills to suit corporations. This inextricably links them with other sociopaths as a politicians disregard for truth, their persistent about face lying, lack of remorse when a lie has been made, and lack of long term goals are all symptoms of the sociopath.

The last example is quite possibly the pinnacle of the “true position of power” this last position litterally dictates world economies, and the success or failure of a country economically and politically.

Leaders of the IMF: This notion is similar to that of the banking CEO, except the IMF plays a larger role in the manipulation of the world economy and the economic outcomes of 3rd world, and developing nations. The IMF has in the past supported ill informed, and managed IMF loans. Just one example is the Argentinian economy, which through short term political deals made by politicians, corporations and the IMF lead to a hyperinflation, most recently between 1999 and 2002.

Crux of my theory
My theory is our world is ruled and controlled by these people. (obviously with the general exception every so often). What you will find is that people of non sociopathic traits never reach positions of true power because they get “selected out/weeded out” by the corporate/social/and or political system.

Those that make it (through sheer luck, or possibly through some type of benevolant sociopathic trait, ie: leaders of the initial Russian revolution) are quickly taken out of these positions or Litterally killed. The sociopath does not feel remorse for extreme actions, and will do anything to achieve their goals. I will not prime you by giving you an example to think about, but the below will no doubt incite you to come to the obvious conclusions for your own example of these people.

Kill, or Die trying?
How do we get rid of these personality traits within positions of power? Again, I am only giving you my opinion (based on very little empirical fact) but I feel that these people would be difficult to eliminate from positions of power as they are inherently drawn to these positions due to their traits. In most cases, I think an attempt to eliminate them, and “impose” a more humanistic and socially concious person would lead to violence. I think world history has shown this through things such as Wars and political revolutions. These are examples of massive shifts in power structures (similar to Kuhn’s “paradigm shifts”) which ultimately are only ever achieved through violent means. The reason violence is needed (again only my theory, not backed by any evidence) is that Sociopaths when they attain power, hardly ever reliquish it. This can be explained to some extent by “elite Theory” which states that;

“the cohesiveness and unity of the power elite is strengthened by the similarity of the social background of it’s members, and the interchange and overlapping of personnel between the three elites. Members are drawn largley from upper strata of society; they are mainly protestant, native born Americans, from urban areas in the eastern United States. They share similar educational backgrounds and mix socially in the same high prestige clubs. As a result they tend to share similar VALUES and SYMPATHIES which provide a basis for mutual trust and COOPERATION”. (italics and capitals added, quote from “Sociology, themes and perspectives, 3rd ed.)

The example given is from an American study, but obviously would translate across cultures quite easily, just interchage the sociocultural specifics
to this notion of Elite Theory, I would also add that many of it’s members also exhibit the same sociopathic tendencies, it is only with these traits that they are able to attain, and maintain their positions of power within their social class and their place of employment.

Concluding remarks
Nothing in society is ever stable. Science, politics, religion, Nation Borders, anything that is influenced, controlled, or developed by humans will inevitably be an extension of the personality traits of those that control it. Change in most cases only occurs through challenge, debate, and upheaval. Even scientific theories take significant “ideological wars” for paradigms to be shifted. It is the same with social order in my opinion. Change doesn’t occur without some form of violence as those within these positions never yeild control voluntarily.

This is just an idea of mine, it’s a work in progress, if you know of any personality journals that have investigated this idea, send me the link.
Read the below list of symptoms, and diagnostic criteria from the Diagnostic and statistical manual for mental disorders (used in psychology and psychiatry). Pick a recent Political leader (I suggested Political leader as it is the one most of us have the best knowledge of) or pick a CEO of a large corporation (if you know them well enough) and see if you can detect the symptoms and Diagnostic requirements in your example?

Symptoms
Characteristics of people with antisocial personality disorder may include:
· Persistent lying or stealing
· Superficial charm
· Apparent lack of remorse or empathy; inability to care about hurting others
· Inability to keep jobs or stay in school
· Impulsivity and/or recklessness
· Lack of realistic, long-term goals — an inability or persistent failure to develop and execute long-term plans and goals
· Inability to make or keep friends, or maintain relationships such as marriage
· Poor behavioral controls — expressions of irritability, annoyance, impatience, threats, aggression, and verbal abuse; inadequate control of anger and temper
· Narcissism, elevated self-appraisal or a sense of extreme entitlement
· A persistent agitated or depressed feeling (dysphoria)
· A history of childhood conduct disorder
· Recurring difficulties with the law
· Tendency to violate the boundaries and rights of others
· Substance abuse
· Aggressive, often violent behavior; prone to getting involved in fights
· Inability to tolerate boredom
· Disregard for the safety of self or others
· Persistent attitude of irresponsibility and disregard for social rules, obligations, and norms
· Difficulties with authority figures

Diagnostic criteria (DSM-IV-TR = 301.7)
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fourth edition, DSM IV-TR, a widely used manual for diagnosing mental disorders, defines antisocial personality disorder (in Axis II Cluster B) as:[1]
A) There is a pervasive pattern of disregard for and the rights of others occurring since the age of 15, as indicated by three (or more) of the following:
1. failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest;
2. deceitfulness, as indicated by repeatedly lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure;
3. impulsivity or failure to plan ahead;
4. irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults;
5. reckless disregard for safety of self or others;
6. consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations;
7. lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another.
B) The individual is at least 18 years of age.
C) There is evidence of Conduct disorder with onset before age 15.
D) The occurrence of antisocial behavior is not exclusively during the course of schizophrenia or a manic episode.
Deceit and manipulation are considered essential features of the disorder. Therefore, it is essential in making the diagnosis to collect material from sources other than the individual being diagnosed.
It is a requirement of DSM-IV that a diagnosis of any specific personality disorder also satisfies a set of general personality disorder criteria.

JUST A FEW EXAMPLES:
Why did Jesus die? because Sociopaths in positions of power feared his message.
Why was Ernesto "Che" Guevara chased in Bolivia and shot dead?: because Sociopaths in positions of power feared his message.
Why was Nelson mandela put in Jail?: because Sociopaths in positions of power feared his message. (analyse the legacy of Mandela, has much changed?)
Why was Martin Luther King Shot?: because Sociopaths in positions of power feared his message.
Post edit: Why did they Kill Salvador Allende?: because Sociopaths in positions of power feared his message.

ANYONE ELSE GOT ANY OTHER EXAMPLES?