élite

Élite is a term used to describe a relatively small, privileged group that holds a disproportionate share of power, influence, or resources within a society. The word derives from the French élite, from Latin eligere to choose, and has been adopted in many languages to denote the people regarded as the best or most capable in a given field or context. In everyday use, an elite may refer to political leaders, top executives, or leading figures in culture and science.

In social science, élite denotes a subset of the population with concentrated power across political, economic, and cultural institutions. The concept underpins elite theory, associated with thinkers such as Gaetano Mosca and Vilfredo Pareto, which argues that a ruling minority governs even when democracy exists; by contrast, pluralist theories emphasize power dispersed among many groups. The idea of an elite is not static: it can be reproduced through networks, education, and access to capital and institutions, and it may circulate through interlocking directorates and elite schooling.

Usage of the term can be descriptive or normative. Some writers critique entrenched privilege and gaps in meritocracy, while others use the concept to analyze decision-making and leadership. In modern contexts, elites may be identified by position (heads of state, corporate boards), by professional capital (scientists, lawyers), or by cultural influence (media, artistic circles). The notion also intersects with class, race, and gender dynamics, shaping which individuals are counted as part of an elite and who is excluded.