Types and types of political elite. Role in the society

In the article we will consider what types of political elite there are and what role they play in society. We will clarify the specific features of the different types of elite mentioned. We learn their signs and functions. And we will determine what exactly is the concept: "types of political elites", "formation of elites".

Types

Types of political elite are divided into a number of features. So, depending on the method of selection, it can be defined as open or closed. And if you are targeting a place in the political system, you can divide it into a ruling and an opposition one.

The political elite can be united or divided, depending on the nature of the internal relations in it, and low or high, in terms of representation.

Now let's look at more detailed characteristics of types / types of political elite.

By the method of selection

The political elite can be open or closed. The first is characterized by the fact that if you want to get into its ranks before the applicant appears a limited number of formalities that are aimed at finding someone with the necessary personal qualities.

The mechanism of its work is elections, which mean a competitive struggle. A feature of this type of elite is that it is provided with a high degree of circulation. In other words, representatives of different strata can get into it. Thanks to this, people with new ideas often come to the open elite. From this, there is a low continuity in policy development.

The political elite, formed by the guild type (closed) is characterized by the fact that the candidate can enter it only by meeting a significant number of formal requirements. In this case, personal devotion to the leadership and willingness to carry out orders without question are very important. The appointment is used as a selection mechanism.

From the pluses it can be said that such elites provide a high degree of continuity in policy making, a low number of internal conflicts, and also support the balance of decisions. But at the same time, enterprising people come here in small numbers (besides, they are not allowed to deploy activities well). This leads to the fact that the closed elite kostenet, degrades and degenerates. The degree of circulation in this case is low.

Regularities

It should be said that the functions and types of political elites are interrelated. As an example, the following can be cited.

There are pairs: closed and united; Open and disconnected. But this does not mean at all that one attribute is always concomitant with the other, although in this grouping there are very obvious regularities.

Also, one can not say for sure that some elite is completely open or closed, because there are no clear boundaries in this definition.

The nature of internal relations

In this case, there can be such types of political elite: united and disunited. In the first case, it is rather cohesive and boasts a high degree of integration. Within such an elite, inter-group competition is kept at a low level, and conflicts do not turn into an irreconcilable stage. And when the union on the basis of a certain ideology, there is an intolerance to all those who adhere to dissent.

The most effective are the elites, who have united on the basis of consensus. In this case, they develop an agreement on the basic values, goals and methods of policy that will be conducted.

A feature of the disunited elite is a low degree of integration. This is accompanied by a sharp struggle between different groups that want to have strategic posts, control areas and manage the distribution of resources under their control. Due to the high degree of competition, widely used are condemned methods of struggle (including a gross compromise of rivals).

Place in the political system

Earlier it was noted that in the case of determining the place in the political system, the ruling elite and the counter-elite are distinguished. The first group includes those who indirectly or directly participate in the management of society. Counter-elites are called persons possessing the qualities that are characteristic of elites, but due to various obstacles or their social status they do not have the ability to exercise control.

Under the counter-elite can understand, for example, the political opposition, because it wants to weaken the power of the elite and to take over part or all of its powers. In a broader sense, this can be understood as a social group that is endowed with elitist qualities.

The peculiarity in this case is that it does not want to be part of the ruling elite, but has a goal to deprive it of power, in order to build a new system in the future. This is done through social revolutions.

Degree of representativeness

This parameter is important for the people. After all, if elites have a high degree of representativeness, they can express the interests of a large number of segments of society. Thus, it will develop more or less balanced. If the degree of representation is low, then, accordingly, the interests of a small number of segments will be represented.

This typology is used to understand the transformation processes that the political elite is undergoing. The signs that led to the current state of affairs can be found in the past. Let's look at the situation on the example of modern Russia.

In the pre-revolutionary hours, the elite and the counter-elite were formed in conditions when there were no democratic freedoms in the society. Officially, it consisted of officials and was formed according to the class principle. Thus, it was best to represent the interests of the top (and this was open and legal). Starting in 1917, the "place of the elite" begins to occupy the "proletarian" bureaucracy. It was formed according to the unconditional nomenclature principle. Legislatively it was formalized that the bureaucracy represents the interests of the whole people.

Other types

The types of political elite considered earlier are generally accepted in the classification. But there are other approaches that offer their methods of classification. Let's look at alternative versions of what types of political elite can be:

1. Traditional and modern.
2. Higher, secondary and administrative.

Traditional and modern elites

The division in this case is carried out on the basis of the means of approval used by the elite. So, for traditional elites, reliance on certain phenomena is characteristic:

• Customs;
• Ownership of land;
• Military valor;
• Nobility of origin;
• Religious merit, etc.

Examples include generic nobility, land aristocracy, religious hierarchies, and others.

Modern elites get their power thanks to the values that are prevalent in our time:

• Financial capital;
• Professional achievements;
• Education, etc.

To modern elites it is possible to carry business, political leaders, representatives of scientific and technical crafts. But this does not apply to everyone, but only to those who can influence decisions and take a certain authoritative position.

Higher, middle and administrative elite

The division in this case is carried out on the basis of the received powers, but there are no clear criteria for this. The highest elite consider people who can influence the most significant in the scale of society decisions. For example, heads of state, chairmen of parliaments, prime ministers - all those holding high positions in any of the three branches of power. Quantitatively, this group usually ranges from 100 to 200 people.

The average elite includes a large number of officials who receive their position during the elections. It includes members of the State Duma (if we consider the realities of the Russian Federation), governors, leaders of different political parties and social movements, heads of cities and so on. In this environment, there is a strong differentiation, therefore, as a unifying factor, it is that its representatives are elected in elections.

The administrative elite is understood by the top layer of bureaucracy, which occupies high positions in committees, ministries and other bodies of state administration. Their peculiarity is that they are appointed.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are different types of elites. The coordinate system of their classification will vary depending on what we will choose as a starting point. If there is a desire to get into the elite, then it must be remembered that this is not a matter of one day. For this, a person needs to have authority, knowledge and connections.

Equally important is the realization that great rights are commensurate with their duties. For the decisions you make, you have to pay. Therefore, it is necessary to be cautious in your desires and to avoid committing actions, the consequences of which can not be properly estimated.