Society (social elite)

The upper ranks of a community, distinguished by high social status, wealth, or influence. Its membership and boundaries vary across societies and historical periods.

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Social stratification: The hierarchical arrangement of people into social layers with unequal access to resources, status, and power. The social elite occupies the upper layers of stratified societies.
Elite theory: A family of theories arguing that a relatively small group holds disproportionate power in society. It explains how influence can remain concentrated among upper social ranks.
Aristocracy: A hereditary upper class whose members traditionally hold elevated social rank and, in some societies, political privileges. Hereditary rank is one historically prominent form of elite membership.
Ruling class: A social class that exercises dominant control over a society's political and economic institutions. An elite may have prestige without collectively governing society.
Social status: A person's recognized position or standing within a social group or society. Prestige and rank help define who is treated as elite.
Social networks: Patterns of relationships among people or groups through which information, support, and resources flow. Personal ties connect elite members and facilitate access to opportunities.
Patrician: A member of a privileged upper class, especially in ancient Rome or certain European cities. Patrician families illustrate elite status rooted in lineage and civic standing.
Power elite: A small group whose members occupy top positions in major political, economic, and military institutions. This narrower concept centers institutional command rather than social standing generally.
Social class: A grouping of people based on shared economic position and related social conditions. Class position often shapes access to elite networks and institutions.
Interlocking directorates: Overlapping corporate board memberships that connect otherwise separate organizations. Shared directors can link business leaders into a coordinated elite network.