Elitism is the notion that individuals who form anelite—a select group with desirable qualities such asintellect,wealth,power, fame,physical attractiveness, notability, specialskills,experience,lineage—are more likely to be constructive to society and deserve greater influence or authority.[1] The termelitism may be used to describe a situation in which power is concentrated in the hands of a limited number of people. Beliefs that are in opposition to elitism includeegalitarianism,anti-intellectualism (against powerful institutions perceived to be controlled by elites),populism, and thepolitical theory ofpluralism.
Elite theory is the sociological or political science analysis of elite influence in society: elite theorists regard pluralism as autopian ideal. Elitism is closely related tosocial class and whatsociologists term "social stratification". In modernWestern societies, social stratification is typically defined in terms of three distinct social classes: theupper class, themiddle class, and thelower class.[2]
Elitists tend to favor social systems such astechnocracy, combined withmeritocracy and/orplutocracy, as opposed to politicalegalitarianism andpopulism. Elitists believe only a few "movers and shakers" truly change society, rather than the majority of people who only vote and elect the elites into power.[3]
Quotations related toElitism at Wikiquote
The dictionary definition ofelitism at Wiktionary
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