Elite
Elite (occasionally spelled Élite) is taken ori-
ginally from the Latin, eligere, "to elect". In
sociology as in general usage, the elite is a
relatively small dominant group within a
large society, which enjoys a privileged
status envied by individuals of lower social
status.
The position of an elite at the top of the
social strata almost invariably puts it in a po-
sition of leadership and often subjects the
holders of elite status to pressure to maintain
their position as part of the elite. However, in
spite of the pressures, the existence of the
elite social stratum is usually unchanged.
Elitism
In elite theory as developed by Marxist polit-
ical scientists like Michael Parenti, all suffi-
ciently large social groups will have some
kind of elite 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 American
Civil Rights Movement, then elite members
of the excluded group may form a counter-
elite to fight for their group’s interests (al-
though they may be fighting for those in-
terests only to the extent they mesh with the
counter-elite’s interests). Of course, the dom-
inant elite can neutralize the counter-elite
through
the
classic
divide-and-conquer
strategy of admitting key members of the
counter-elite into the elite.
Elitism usually draws envy and resent-
ment from the lower classes and the counter-
elite. There are cases where elites arguably
use this resentment of an elite to maintain
their position. See Communism.
Religious elite
In religion, the Latin form "elect" is preferred
over the French form "elite" 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.
Perhaps the most globally recognized of
all religious elite reside in Rome: the Pope
and the Vatican Assembly.