The dictionary definition of elite is "a group of people considered to be the best in a particular society or category, especially because of their power, talent or wealth”.
There are a number of different circumstances in which a group of people can be considered ‘elite’, five of the most common of these are the political elite, religious elite, linguistic elite, educational elite and the military elite. The political elite are considered to be a group of relatively small size who have power that is envied by others. When in a position of political power, this elite group put themselves in a position of leadership and are pressured to maintain this leadership position as part of their elite status. Religious elites held a significant influence and power during the Middle Ages and clergymen often held seats of government power. The elite had the power to persecute anyone who disobeyed the church. Religious elite still exists today in the Pope and the Vatican Assembly. Some elite groups distinguish themselves by speaking a language that is not shared by the commonality. For example in Tsarist Russia and Vietnam, the elite would speak French. In the Philippines it is still possible to find linguistic elite groups who speak Spanish. In some countries where the elite do not speak a different language, their accent or dialect ay hold a higher status, e.g. Queen’s English or Received Pronunciation in England. In terms of education, the elite are often considered to be educated to govern rather than to gain knowledge and skills. The elitist approach towards education is that of gearing individuals towards being a leader of some sort or to think at a sophisticated intellectual level that is more advanced than the general population. Within the military, an elite group is a unit of soldiers or recruits. This elite unit will often get benefits that the others do not as well as have a higher status and higher pay and equipment.
There are a number of different circumstances in which a group of people can be considered ‘elite’, five of the most common of these are the political elite, religious elite, linguistic elite, educational elite and the military elite. The political elite are considered to be a group of relatively small size who have power that is envied by others. When in a position of political power, this elite group put themselves in a position of leadership and are pressured to maintain this leadership position as part of their elite status. Religious elites held a significant influence and power during the Middle Ages and clergymen often held seats of government power. The elite had the power to persecute anyone who disobeyed the church. Religious elite still exists today in the Pope and the Vatican Assembly. Some elite groups distinguish themselves by speaking a language that is not shared by the commonality. For example in Tsarist Russia and Vietnam, the elite would speak French. In the Philippines it is still possible to find linguistic elite groups who speak Spanish. In some countries where the elite do not speak a different language, their accent or dialect ay hold a higher status, e.g. Queen’s English or Received Pronunciation in England. In terms of education, the elite are often considered to be educated to govern rather than to gain knowledge and skills. The elitist approach towards education is that of gearing individuals towards being a leader of some sort or to think at a sophisticated intellectual level that is more advanced than the general population. Within the military, an elite group is a unit of soldiers or recruits. This elite unit will often get benefits that the others do not as well as have a higher status and higher pay and equipment.
