Elite theory

Italian economist and sociologist (1848-1923)

thumb|upright=1.35|Political cartoon parodying James G. Blaine with his wealthy donors feasting at a table at [[Delmonico's while a poor family begs beneath. Illustrated by Walt McDougall and Valerian Gribayedoff and originally printed in New York World, October 30, 1884.]]

Elitism is the notion that individuals who form an elite—a select group with desirable qualities such as intellect, wealth, power, fame, 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 t

German sociologist (1876–1936)

Italian political scientist and journalist (1858–1941)

Political theory claiming that all organizations will eventually become oligarchic

theory of the state

The term post-democracy is a term coined by Warwick University political scientist Colin Crouch in 2000 in his book Coping with Post-Democracy. It designates states that operate by democratic systems (elections are held, governments fall, and there is freedom of speech), but whose application is progressively limited. That is, a small elite co-opts democratic institutions to give itself decision-making authority. Crouch further developed the idea in an article called, "Is there a liberalism beyond social democracy?" for the think tank Policy Network and in his subsequent book The Strange Non-D

book by Charles Wright Mills (1956)

political concept

Romanian sociologist (1882-1947)

Poorly informed people who vote in elections