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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 privilege 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 favouritism. Members of an inherited elite are aristocrats and naturally tend towards preserving the status quo..
For the converse of "elitism" see "anti-elitism" and "populism".
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 among the elite
- Claimed innate qualities, abilities, or other ascribed status.
Commonly, large amount 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".
Anti-elitism
- Main article: 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. Often, accusing someone of being an "elitist" is a pejorative remark meant to imply that the person in question does not in fact belong to an elite, but is merely a hanger-on. Elitism can be seen as encouraging the exclusion of large numbers of people from positions of privilege or power. Thus, many anti-elitists seek the social equality of Egalitarianism, Populism, Socialism, or Communism. They may also support affirmative action, social security, luxury tax, and increasingly high progressive tax for the wealthiest members of society. All of these measures seek to reduce the gap of power between the elites and non-elites.
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.