CURRENT THEORY OF TODAY'S ELITE

Abstract

Presented in this work is the current theory of the elite in order to gain a better comprehension of the stratification of a society in transition. Numerous and different variants of elitist theory exist. The three basic types are: conservative, critical and liberal. The conservative understanding begins from the position that the division between the elite and the masses is a natural and everlasting one. The members of the elite possess certain characteristics that other members of the society do not. The relationship between the elite and the masses in society is like the relationship between soul and body. It is for this reason that the elite and the masses must parallelly exist. The critical point of view does not significantly differ from the conservative one. The primary difference between the two is that the conservative understanding justifies the elite, and accept it as something that is natural and normal, while the critical comprehension also accepts the elite, but nevertheless criticizes it. The liberal understanding of the elite is a neutral and more progressive one form the preceding two. The liberal comprehension of the power of the elite does not interpret it as the natural ability of the members of the elite, but rather as the functional complexity of developed social groups, which cannot be lead by the uneducated and inept masses. The Yugoslav national crises, in its own manner, has confirmed elitist theory. The thesis that political and social power is necessary in all societies, thus even in ours, is present in the hands of a small number of people, such that "a small number governs." While the elitist theory explains the incompetence of the masses in holding power, in governing and in decision making, because the masses do not possess the important qualities, in fact the Yugoslav crisis has shown that among the political elite of former Yugoslav Republics, administrative incompetence and the inability to govern existed. One of the end results of this is the disintegration of the Former Yugoslavi.