Elitist Ideology
An Elitist Ideology is a social ideology that elite individuals should have significantly greater influence than non-elite individuals.
- Context:
- It can define Elite Status through intrinsic quality, special training, and notable achievement.
- It can justify Power Distribution through elite governance and social stratification.
- It can promote Social Authority through elite influence and decision making.
- It can establish Social Structure through class distinctions and hierarchy.
- ...
- It can range from being a Merit Based System to being a Birth Right System, depending on its elite selection criteria.
- It can range from being a Limited Power Structure to being a Total Control System, depending on its power concentration.
- ...
- It can manifest in Social Domains through class systems.
- It can operate in Political Domains through governance structures.
- It can function in Cultural Domains through social status.
- ...
- Examples:
- Political Elitisms, such as:
- Scientific Elitisms, such as:
- Social Elitisms, such as:
- ...
- Counter-Examples:
- Populist Ideology, which promotes popular sovereignty.
- Egalitarianism, which advocates equal rights.
- Democratic Systems, which emphasize collective decision-making.
- See: Wealth, Discrimination, Anti-Elitism, Ruling Class, Political Theory, Intellectualism, Elite Theory, Social Stratification, Upper Class, Social Power, Aristocracy.
References
2016
- (Wikipedia, 2016) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elitism Retrieved:2016-6-27.
- Elitism is the belief or attitude that some individuals who form an elite — a select group of people with a certain ancestry, intrinsic quality or worth, high intellect, wealth, specialized training or experience, or other distinctive attributes — are those whose influence or authority is greater than that of others; whose views on a matter are to be taken more seriously or carry more weight; whose views or actions are more likely to be constructive to society as a whole; or whose extraordinary skills, abilities, or wisdom render them especially fit to govern. [1]
Alternatively, the term elitism may be used to describe a situation in which power is concentrated in the hands of a limited number of people. Oppositions of elitism include anti-elitism, egalitarianism, populism and political theory of pluralism. Elite theory is the sociological or political science analysis of elite influence in society: elite theorists regard pluralism as a utopian ideal.
'Elitism' also refers to situations in which an individual assumes special 'privileges' and responsibilities in the hope that this arrangement will benefit humanity or themselves. Elitism is closely related to social class and what sociologists call social stratification. Members of the upper classes are sometimes known as the social elite. The term elitism is also sometimes used to denote situations in which a group of people claiming to possess high abilities or simply an in-group or cadre grant themselves extra privileges at the expense of others. This form of elitism may be described as discrimination.
- Elitism is the belief or attitude that some individuals who form an elite — a select group of people with a certain ancestry, intrinsic quality or worth, high intellect, wealth, specialized training or experience, or other distinctive attributes — are those whose influence or authority is greater than that of others; whose views on a matter are to be taken more seriously or carry more weight; whose views or actions are more likely to be constructive to society as a whole; or whose extraordinary skills, abilities, or wisdom render them especially fit to govern. [1]
2025
- (Wikipedia, 2025) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elitism Retrieved:2025-1-13.
- Elitism is the notion that individuals who form an elite — a select group with desirable qualities such as intellect, wealth, power, physical attractiveness, notability, special skills, experience, lineage — are more likely to be constructive to society and deserve greater influence or authority.[1] The term elitism 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 include egalitarianism, anti-intellectualism (against powerful institutions perceived to be controlled by elites), populism, and the political theory of pluralism.
Elite theory is the sociological or political science analysis of elite influence in society: elite theorists regard pluralism as a utopian ideal. Elitism is closely related to social class and what sociologists term "social stratification". In modern Western societies, social stratification is typically defined in terms of three distinct social classes: the upper class, the middle class, and the lower class.[2]
Some synonyms for "elite" might be "upper-class" or "aristocratic", indicating that the individual in question has a relatively large degree of control over a society's means of production. This includes those who gain this position due to socioeconomic means and not personal achievement. However, these terms are misleading when discussing elitism as a political theory, because they are often associated with negative "class" connotations and fail to appreciate a more unbiased exploration of the philosophy.
- Elitism is the notion that individuals who form an elite — a select group with desirable qualities such as intellect, wealth, power, physical attractiveness, notability, special skills, experience, lineage — are more likely to be constructive to society and deserve greater influence or authority.[1] The term elitism 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 include egalitarianism, anti-intellectualism (against powerful institutions perceived to be controlled by elites), populism, and the political theory of pluralism.