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{{Short description|Notion that elites deserve more influence}} | |||
'''Elitism''' is a belief or attitude that an '''elite'''— a selected group of persons whose personal abilities, specialized training or other attributes place them at the top of any field (see below)— are the people whose views on a matter are to be taken most seriously, or who are alone fit to govern. Thus elitism sees an elite as occupying a special position of authority or ] in a group, set apart from the majority of people who do not match up with their abilities or attributes. Thus this selected elite is treated with '''favoritism'''. Members of an ''inherited'' elite are ]s. | |||
{{Redirect|Elitist}} | |||
{{Wiktionary|elite|elitism}} | |||
{{Discrimination sidebar}} | |||
'''Elitism''' is the notion that individuals who form an ] — a select group with desirable qualities such as ], ], ], ], notability, special ], ], ] — are more likely to be constructive to society and deserve greater influence or authority.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/elitist|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160925233306/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/elitist|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 25, 2016|title=elitist {{!}} Definition of elitist in English by Oxford Dictionaries|website=Oxford Dictionaries {{!}} English|access-date=March 4, 2019}}</ref> 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 ], ] (against powerful institutions perceived to be controlled by elites), ], and the ] of ]. | |||
] is the sociological or political science analysis of elite influence in society: elite theorists regard ] as a ]. Elitism is closely related to ] and what ]s term "]". In modern ], social stratification is typically defined in terms of three distinct ]es: the ], the ], and the ].<ref name="Saunders1990">{{cite book | author-link=Peter Robert Saunders | url=https://archive.org/details/socialclassstrat0000saun | url-access=registration | title=Social Class and Stratification | publisher=Routledge | last=Saunders | first=Peter | year=1990 | isbn=978-0-415-04125-6}}</ref> | |||
For the converse of "elitism" see "]". | |||
Some ]s for "elite" might be "upper-class" or "]", indicating that the individual in question has a relatively large degree of control over a society's ]. 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/elitist|title=ELITIST {{!}} meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary|website=dictionary.cambridge.org|language=en|access-date=4 March 2019}}</ref> | |||
Abilities or attributes that identify an elite vary. They include: | |||
* High level of ] | |||
* High level of ] in a given field | |||
* High ] | |||
* High natural abilities such as ] abilities | |||
* High ] | |||
* Good ] | |||
* Claimed ]-given qualities, abilities, or status. | |||
==Characteristics== | |||
Commonly, large amount of personal ], often assessed as the reward of elite qualities by those who are impressed by it, are insufficient on their own, as every ] can attest. | |||
Attributes that identify an elite vary; personal achievement may not be essential. Elite status ''can'' be based on personal achievement, such as degrees from top-rate universities or impressive internships and job offers, as well as on lineage or passed-on fame from parents or grandparents.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}} | |||
As a term, "elite" usually describes a person or group of people who are members of the uppermost class of society, and wealth can contribute to that class determination. Personal attributes commonly purported by elitist theorists to be characteristic of the elite include: rigorous study of, or great accomplishment within, a particular field; a long track record of competence in a demanding field; an extensive history of dedication and effort in service to a specific discipline (e.g., medicine or law) or a high degree of accomplishment, training or ] within a given field; a high degree of physical ].{{citation needed|date=December 2019}} | |||
Elitism takes many forms, some of which are positive and some negative. | |||
Elitists tend to favor social systems such as ], combined with ] and/or ], as opposed to political ] and ]. 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Elite (elitist) theory|url=http://www.auburn.edu/~johnspm/gloss/elite_theory|website=auburn.edu|publisher=Auburn University|access-date=13 August 2014}}</ref> | |||
Positive forms of elitism are formed in situations in which members of a community with special abilities or special qualifications are afforded greater respect in honour of their abilities or qualifications. Their position in the top of their field is used in order to benefit everybody. | |||
Negative forms of elitism are formed when a group of people with high abilities or attributes conspire to give themselves extra privileges at the expense of all other people. This form of elitism may be described as '']''. | |||
At times elitism is closely related to ] and stratification. People with a higher social class are usually known as the "social elite". | |||
==Anti-elitism== | |||
The term "elitism" or the title "elitist" can be used resentfully by a person who is not a member of an elite, or is a member but resents their position or uses it in a condescending or cynical manner in order to ridicule or criticise practices which discriminate on the basis of ability or attributes. Elitism can be seen as encouraging the exclusion of large numbers of people from positions of privilege or power. | |||
==Elitism and education== | |||
'''Elitism''' in the context of ] is the practice of concentrating attention on or allocating funding to the ]s who rank highest in a particular field of endeavour, the other students being deemed less worthy of attention. | |||
Elitism in education could be based upon learning ability, knowledge, or other abilities. | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
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==References== | |||
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==External links== | |||
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{{Wiktionary|elitism}} | |||
* ] (June 2008). . "Our best universities have forgotten that the reason they exist is to make minds, not careers." ''].'' of William Deresiewicz's book '']'' (April 2015), '']'' | |||
{{Discrimination}} | |||
==Elite== | |||
{{Political philosophy}} | |||
In ] as in general usage, the '''elite''' (the "elect"; sometimes the ] form "élite" is used) refers to a relatively small dominant ] within a larger society, which enjoys privileged status and, almost invariantly, exploits individuals of lower social status. When applied to an individual, as in the phrase "many elites come to this restaurant," the usage quite economically both refers to an individual within that class and establishes the speaker as non-elite. | |||
{{Authority control}} | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} | |||
In ] the Latin form "elect" is preferred over the French form "élite" in discussing ] or ] theology, for examples, and the social structure that is theologically driven. Other religious groups may use expressions like "the ]s" to describe the elect. | |||
Some elites speak a language that is not shared by the commonality: today in Finland the elite speaks an archaic dialect of Swedish, in Tsarist Russia the elite spoke French; in Plantagenet England the elite spoke Norman French; in Ptolemaic Egypt the elite spoke koine Greek. (See ].) Elites establish correct usage for the language when they share one with the commonality. Elite usage is reflected in "prescriptive" dictionaries; common usage is reflected in "descriptive" dictionaries. Elites establish cultural canons, which are more widely agreed-upon within the elite and more generally ignored or resented among the non-elite. In the 1950s, the British elite spoke what linguists of the time called ]. | |||
Elite advantages are the usual ones of a dominant ]: easier access to ] and political ], more rigorous ] largely free of ], resulting in ] influence, and ]. | |||
Elites may justify their existence based on claims of inherited position, among certain elites sometimes given ] justifications of ] or ] superiority. This has been often seen in the past. In Nazi Germany, genetic superiority was used as the basis of a dreamed aryan elite. Many royal elites in history have cited religion as justification for their position. | |||
Meritocracy is a facet of society that tries to promote merit as a route to the elite. Societies such as that of the ] have it in their culture to promote such a facet. However, it tends to be imperfect. | |||
Elites are educated to govern. Elite education is sceptical and inquiring, hard-headed, intolerant of sham, demanding and unsentimental. This approach to understanding the nature of society is often presented in a very intellectual fashion. When an individual attains the interest to find out the validity of the statements they inheirently must consider themselves separate from the rest of society. Critics will describe such a self-image as being elitist in a way which excludes the bulk of society thus preventing progress. Publicly financed elite education is a symptom of a successful and confident society that is prepared for self-criticism. | |||
Wealth is not a sure sign of elite status. Neither does an elite necessarily show a sense of public obligation. | |||
] and ] are social systems which feature an elite. An elite group, ranged round the ], is a distinct feature of other closely-related social ]s. | |||
In ] as developed by Marxist political scientists like ], all sufficiently 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 ] that was widespread in the ] prior to the success of the ], then elite members of the excluded group may form a '''counterelite''' to fight for their group's interests (although they may be fighting for those interests only to the extent they mesh with the counterelite's interests). Of course, the dominant elite can neutralize the counterelite through the classic divide-and-conquer strategy of admitting key members of the counterelite into the elite. | |||
Elitism usually draws envy and resentment 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 ] | |||
== See also == | |||
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== External links == | |||
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Latest revision as of 21:42, 25 October 2024
Notion that elites deserve more influence "Elitist" redirects here. For other uses, see Elitist (disambiguation).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. 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.
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.
Characteristics
Attributes that identify an elite vary; personal achievement may not be essential. Elite status can be based on personal achievement, such as degrees from top-rate universities or impressive internships and job offers, as well as on lineage or passed-on fame from parents or grandparents.
As a term, "elite" usually describes a person or group of people who are members of the uppermost class of society, and wealth can contribute to that class determination. Personal attributes commonly purported by elitist theorists to be characteristic of the elite include: rigorous study of, or great accomplishment within, a particular field; a long track record of competence in a demanding field; an extensive history of dedication and effort in service to a specific discipline (e.g., medicine or law) or a high degree of accomplishment, training or wisdom within a given field; a high degree of physical discipline.
Elitists tend to favor social systems such as technocracy, combined with meritocracy and/or plutocracy, as opposed to political egalitarianism and populism. 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.
See also
- Caste
- Classism
- Collective narcissism
- Exclusivism
- Global elite
- International Debutante Ball
- Ivory tower
- Narcissism
- Oligarchy
- Rankism
- Right-wing populism
- Sectarianism
- Self-righteousness
- Snobbery
- Social Darwinism
- Social Evolution
- Supremacism
References
- "elitist | Definition of elitist in English by Oxford Dictionaries". Oxford Dictionaries | English. Archived from the original on 25 September 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- Saunders, Peter (1990). Social Class and Stratification. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-04125-6.
- "ELITIST | meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary". dictionary.cambridge.org. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- "Elite (elitist) theory". auburn.edu. Auburn University. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
External links
- Deresiewicz, William (June 2008). The Disadvantages of an Elite Education. "Our best universities have forgotten that the reason they exist is to make minds, not careers." The American Scholar. Review of William Deresiewicz's book Excellent Sheep (April 2015), Foreign Affairs
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