The role of the elite in the arising and cessation of destructive social epidemics

Over the recent years, destructive social epidemics have become a serious threat to the political stability and socio-economic development of entire regions of the world. The article examines the variety of social epidemics, causes and possible ways of countering them. The authors discuss not only psychological and chemical addiction, but also revolutions, civil wars, which are also ranked as the social epidemics. Special attention is paid to the development of human capital, modern competitive people capable to preserve themselves and their country in the era of globalization. The authors consider the role of elites as the main subjects of the society's transformation, which play a special role in the development of epidemics and countering them.