Do existing power structures like politics and law do the employing of scientists and technologists leading to irrational stratification ?

I am currently contemplating the profound influence that established political and legal frameworks exert on the engagement and deployment of scientific and technological expertise within society. Specifically, I am interested in exploring whether these overarching power structures, through their mechanisms of funding, regulation, and policy-making, inadvertently or deliberately contribute to a form of stratification that could be deemed irrational or counterproductive. This might manifest as an uneven distribution of scientific talent, biased research priorities, or the creation of societal divisions based on access to or control over technological advancements, ultimately hindering equitable and optimal progress.