A typological analysis of the elite as a stratum of society

The modern interpretation of the concept of elite is a controversial scientific issue. At the initial stage of the elite studies development, the adherents to opposing approaches had different opinions on elite in the context of the power-state-society system. Nowadays, the situation remains unchanged. Attempts to generalize and separate the phenomenon of the social elite had an impact on the creation and development of scientific schools and theoretical approaches. Due to the diverse concepts of elite, this phenomenon has been considered in fragments and requires an in-depth study. The author defines the elite from the perspective of a typological analysis and the historical development of the society. It is concluded that the modern elite possesses all the features and characteristics of the elite of previous formations. Violence, money and knowledge are merged by the modern elite into the powerful resource and provide it with political and economic power. Democracy makes it possible for elites to compete because people can choose an elite and a way of elite recruitment due to the democratic institutions. The elite has brought global civilizational challenges that are hardly be addressed in terms of the current regimes.