ABSTRACT
Historically, two main principles of recruitment to strategic elite positions have contended with each other or have shared an uneasy truce. One principle is based upon the presumed superiority of biological and social inheritance. The other stresses achievement and demonstrated merit in one or a series of tasks, such as skill in war, appropriating possessions, or passing examinations. An important fact concerning criteria of recruitment to strategic elites is whether they are finite or infinite. The decline of heredity and the rise of individual achievement as principles of recruitment have increased opportunities to gain access to strategic elite positions. Rewards play a two-fold role in the recruitment of elites: they motivate individuals to assume the responsibilities of elite positions; and they maintain the values of hierarchical social positions. The nature of the rewards used to attract candidates to different elite positions largely determines what types of candidates will present themselves.
