Elites

Elites are small social groups that hold a disproportionate share of political, economic, or cultural power in a society. They influence policy, institutions, and public discourse, and their decisions can affect broad populations.

Common forms include economic elites (business leaders and financiers), political elites (ruling party leaders and high-ranking officials), cultural or intellectual elites (leading academics, media figures, artists), military or security elites, and technocratic elites (experts and planners). In modern states these groups often overlap, with individuals occupying positions across multiple domains.

Elites are formed and maintained through wealth, education, strategic networks, and access to opportunities. Social mobility can bring new entrants, but many systems reproduce elites via family connections, elite schools, internships, and regulatory capture. The size and composition of elites vary across societies and historical periods.

Theories of elites range from elite-focused accounts to pluralist views. Elite theory posits that a small, cohesive group governs, shaping policy and society. Classic formulations include Vilfredo Pareto’s idea of the circulation of elites and Gaetano Mosca’s ruling class concept. C. Wright Mills described a power elite in the United States, comprising leaders in business, government, and the military who coordinate national policy.

Critics argue that elite power can undermine equality of opportunity and limit democratic accountability, while proponents emphasize institutions that distribute power and provide checks and balances. Contemporary discussions often address transnational or global elites and their influence on global governance, finance, and culture.