Elite
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Wikipedia-Article "Elite"
- For other uses, see Elite (disambiguation).
Élite is taken from the latin, eligere, "to elect". In sociology as in general usage, the élite (the "elect," from French) is a relatively small dominant group within a larger society, which enjoys a privileged status which is upheld by individuals of lower social status within the structure of a group. When applied to an individual, as in the phrase "many élites come to this restaurant," the usage quite economically both refers to an individual within that class and establishes the speaker as non-élite.
An Élite are the result of economic and political forces within a social structure. Upon formation, societies have always had the tendency to stratify due to a combination of politics and ability. The position of an élite at the top of the social strata almost invariably puts it in a position of leadership and often subjects the holders of élite status to pressure to maintain their position as part of the élite. However, in spite of the pressures borne by its members, the existence of the élite as a social strata is usually unchanged.
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Religious élite
In religion the Latin form "elect" is preferred over the French form "élite" in discussing Cathar or Calvinist theology, for examples, and the social structure that is theologically driven. Other religious groups may use expressions like "the saints" to describe the elect.
Linguistic élite
Some élite groups speak a language that is not shared by the commonality: in Tsarist Russia the élite spoke French, in Plantagenet England the élite spoke Anglo-Norman, in Vietnam the élite spoke French, and in Ptolemaic Egypt the élite spoke koine Greek. (See linguistic imperialism.) Élites establish correct usage for the language when they share one with the commonality. Élite usage is reflected in "prescriptive" dictionaries; common usage is reflected in "descriptive" dictionaries. Élites establish cultural canons, which are more widely agreed-upon within the élite and more generally ignored or resented among the non-élite. In the 1950s, the British élite spoke what linguists of the time called U English.
Class élite
Élite advantages are the usual ones of a dominant social class: easier access to capital and political power, more rigorous education largely free of indoctrination, resulting in cultural influence, and leadership.
Élites may justify their existence based on claims of inherited position; with the rise in authority of science, certain 19th and 20th century élites have embraced pseudoscientific justifications of genetic or racial superiority. In Nazi Germany, genetic superiority was used as the basis of an imagined "Aryan" élite. Élite classes headed by monarchies have traditionally employed religious sanctions for their position.
Meritocracy is a facet of society that tries to promote merit as a route to the élite. Societies such as that of the United States have it in their culture to promote such a facet [see Horatio Alger]. However, while it tends to be imperfect it sheds light as to what many believe to be the "ideal" élite: an élite that is porous and whose members have earnt their position as society's top class.
Aristocracy and oligarchy are social systems which feature an élite as the ruling class. An élite group, ranged round the alpha male, is a distinct feature of other closely-related social primates.
Educational élite
Élites are educated to govern. Élite education is sceptical and inquiring, hard-headed, intolerant of sham, demanding and unsentimental. Common public education is often designed to produce large numbers of useful and loyal citizens at low cost. The élite approach to understanding the nature of society is often presented in a very intellectual fashion. When an individual attains the interest to critically examine the validity of the statements they inherently must consider themselves separate from the rest of society. Critics will describe such a self-image as being élitist in a way which excludes the bulk of society, thus preventing progress. Publicly financed élite education available through open competition is a symptom of a successful and confident society that is prepared for self-criticism.
Financial élite
Wealth is not a sure sign of élite status, as the "new rich" are frequently seen as arriving from non-élite positions. Neither does an élite necessarily show a sense of public obligation.
Élitism
In elite theory as developed by Marxist political scientists like Michael Parenti, all sufficiently large social groups will have some kind of élite group within them that actively participates in the group's political dynamics. When a group is arbitrarily excluded from the larger society, such as in the case of the racism that was widespread in the United States prior to the success of the civil rights movement, then élite members of the excluded group may form a counterélite to fight for their group's interests (although they may be fighting for those interests only to the extent they mesh with the counterélite's interests). Of course, the dominant élite can neutralize the counterélite through the classic divide-and-conquer strategy of admitting key members of the counterélite into the élite.
Élitism usually draws envy and resentment from the lower classes and the counter-élite. There are cases where élites arguably use this resentment of an élite to maintain their position. See Communism. The Elite in the United States also use this method of control via popular culture and media influence. Author C. Wright Mills elaborates on this influence in his book The Power Elite.