ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the concept of the elite that is classificatory and descriptive, designating the holders of high positions in a given society. In democratic countries, an elite of power, or the political elite, is recruited from a broad base. Elites in nondemocratic societies, on the contrary, spring from a narrow base, often from a few families. The most intensive research on elites can focus directly on the question of distinctive elite practices. By proper methods, it is possible to ascertain the "code" of an elite and to describe the values and objectives sought; the base values typically relied upon; and the detailed patterns of expectation, identification, and operation which are present. The political elite comprises the power holders of a body politic. The power holders include the leadership and the social formations from which leaders typically come, and to which accountability is maintained, during a given generation.
