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Elitism is a belief or attitude that elites — a selected group of persons whose personal abilities, wealth, specialised 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 best fit to govern. Elitism may also be used to convey a less rational and more purely arrogant sense of entitlement to better treatment owing to wealth, social standing, etc. Stemming mostly from this usage, elitism has highly negative connotations and is often used pejoratively as conveying disregard for the public (non-elites) or arrogance. In its political and sociological sense, elitism sees an elite as occupying a special position of authority or privilege in a group, set apart from the majority of people who do not match up with his or her abilities or attributes. There is often conservatism among the elite classes.
Attributes that identify an elite vary; personal achievement may not be essential. Attributes of elites include:
- High level of political influence
- Membership in powerful cliques and desirable clubs
- High level of academic qualifications
- High level of experience in a given field (achieved status)
- High intelligence
- High natural abilities such as athletic abilities
- High creativity
- Good taste, since "taste" is defined by the elite
- Claimed innate qualities, abilities, or other ascribed status.
Commonly, large amounts of personal wealth, often assessed as the reward of elite qualities by those who are impressed by it, are insufficient on their own, as every nouveau riche can attest.
The term elitism is also used to refer to situations where a group of people who claim to possess high abilities or simple an in-group or cadre conspire to give themselves extra privileges at the expense of all other people. This form of elitism may be described as discrimination.
Less commonly, elitism may also refer to situations where an elite is given both special privileges and special responsibilities, in the hope that this arrangement will benefit all people.
At times elitism is closely related to social class and stratification. People within a higher social class are usually known as the "social elite".
Elitism and education
- Main article: Academic elitism
Elitism in the context of education is the practice of concentrating attention on or allocating funding to the students 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.