Formation of the digital elite as a new stratum of the global information society

Introduction. The article is devoted to the analysis of the process of formation of the digital elite, determines the legitimacy and regularity of its appearance as a new stratum of the global information society. The paper shows that the study of the process of formation of the digital elite, and the strengthening of its power components is relevant and at the same time complex, with no unambiguous judgments in modern political science. It requires increased attention of the Russian state to the problems of information security and the protection of information sovereignty. Methods and materials. When preparing the article, the author relied on the concept of the global information society, as well as a systematic analysis of the digital society and its strata as a single, complexly organized organism. The methods of comparative analysis, structural and institutional approach and scientific forecasting were used. Analysis. The author examines the general trends of the genesis of the global digital society, the current stage of human development, determines the essence and main features of the new emerging social stratum of this society - the transnational digital elite, its significance and influence on the development of world and Russian society. The article substantiates the thesis that through the digital management of society and the economy, transnational elites have the potential to establish global world governance in the long term. However, according to the author, such a prospect is not deterministic, but is only one of the options for the future development of mankind. The paper also reveals some features of the modern Russian digital transformation, examines the possibilities of the emergence of the Russian digital elite. Results. According to the results of the study, it is concluded that the formation of the digital elite occurs as a result of the gradual transformation of the ruling national and transnational elites, their transition to digital management technologies.