Researching Elites: Old and New Perspectives

Abstract

The phenomenon of elites is ancient but the concept is relatively recent and originally meant something else: “The term ‘elite’ was introduced in the seventeenth century to describe commodities of an exceptional standard and the usage was later extended to designate social groups at the apex of societies” (Daloz 2010a, 1). Over the years the use of the term has been extended. Reviewing literature on elites, the British sociologist John Scott concludes that “at the height of its popularity almost any powerful, advantaged, qualified, privileged, or superior group or category might be described as elite … It was applied to such diverse groups as politicians, bishops, intelligent people, aristocrats, lawyers and successful criminals” (2008, 27). Scott certainly has a point, but following his critique would make research on elites very restrictive, as we shall see. Who then are elites in modern society? Theanswer will turn out to be far from easy, as elites are often related to positions of power and prestige but also to social mobility and complex procedures of inclusion and exclusion. Needless to say that prestige, power, and influence are relational concepts, as is indicated by Salverda and Abbink (see the Introduction, this volume). Elites will use a variety of resources to exert and maintain their positions.