Encyclopedia > Elite (sociology)

  Article Content

Elite (sociology)

In sociology, an elite comprises a relatively small group within a larger one. The elite (the word comes from the French and suggests the chosen or the elect) may mark itself out on grounds of class, access to power, education, money, prestigious genes, race, culture, etc. Elites may press "rights" to influence or even aspire to leadership.

Aristocracy forms one traditional form of an elite, oligarchy another.

For applied concepts of the elite, see elitism.



All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

 
  Search Encyclopedia

Search over one million articles, find something about almost anything!
 
 
  
  Featured Article
Thomas a Kempis

... His writings are all of a devotional character and include tracts and meditations, letters, sermons, a life of Saint Lydewigis[?], a Christian woman who remain ...

 
 
 
This page was created in 23.1 ms