ABSTRACT
The analysis of the elite in a transitional society-and most of the systems under study here are in a transitional state between traditional and modern-generally reveals an elite of changing composition. In particular, we should be alert to changes in the elite that indicate an expansion of the elements of society participating in political decisions and to evidence that indicates traditional opposition to that change. It is axiomatic that established elites oppose such changes because the changes involve a dilution of the elites’ past influence. Conflict is implicit between the elements of the elite proposing and supporting technical modernization and the elements of the elite opposing such changes. In most of the countries of the Middle East, this process expresses itself in terms of religious elite opposition to the modernizing efforts of the bureaucracy, professional classes, and military. Since World War II and the nominal political independence of the nations of the area, this conflict has occurred between the traditional religious elite of the Middle East-the ulemaand the government, usually dominated by the military bureaucracy.
