anti-elite
Opposing privileged classes
Anti-elite describes opposition to powerful, privileged, or highly educated groups perceived as controlling society.
The term appears in political contexts where populist movements position themselves against established institutions: anti-elite rhetoric, an anti-elite candidate.
It can be sincere class critique or strategic posturing—wealthy politicians often deploy anti-elite messaging to appeal to working-class voters.
Common people as political base
- commonfolkOrdinary citizens collectively
- everymanOrdinary representative person
- working-classManual laborers as group
- heartlandCentral region of significance
mainstreet · rank-and-file · proletariat · plebeian · rustbelt · outsider · underdog · demotic
Exclusive right or benefit
- entitlementAssumed right to benefits
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
nepotism · exploitation · oligarchy · plutocracy · stratification · exclusion · disenfranchisement · discrimination
Same status for all
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- justiceFair treatment under law
- inclusivityPractice of welcoming all
accessibility · democracy · redistribution · solidarity · collectivism · meritocracy · classlessness · fraternity
Capacity to withstand force
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- dissentDisagreement with authority
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
revolt · insurgency · revolution · activism · subversion · radicalism · boycott · strike
Founded organization or venue
- oligarchsWealthy few who govern
- plutocratsRulers through financial power
- aristocracyRule by hereditary elite
- powerbrokersThose controlling political outcomes
tycoons · magnates · bourgeoisie · technocrats · bureaucrats · insiders · lobbyists · gatekeepers
grassroots
Common people as political base
- commonfolkOrdinary citizens collectively
- everymanOrdinary representative person
- working-classManual laborers as group
heartland · mainstreet · rank-and-file · proletariat · plebeian · rustbelt · outsider · underdog · demotic · majoritarianism
privilege
Exclusive right or benefit
- entitlementAssumed right to benefits
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
cronyism · nepotism · exploitation · oligarchy · plutocracy · stratification · exclusion · disenfranchisement · discrimination · bias
equality
Same status for all
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- fairnessJust and equal treatment
- justiceFair treatment under law
inclusivity · accessibility · democracy · redistribution · solidarity · collectivism · meritocracy · classlessness · fraternity · cooperation
resistance
Capacity to withstand force
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- dissentDisagreement with authority
uprising · revolt · insurgency · revolution · activism · subversion · radicalism · boycott · strike · occupation
establishment
Founded organization or venue
- oligarchsWealthy few who govern
- plutocratsRulers through financial power
- aristocracyRule by hereditary elite
powerbrokers · tycoons · magnates · bourgeoisie · technocrats · bureaucrats · insiders · lobbyists · gatekeepers · intelligentsia
anti-eliteelitist
One favoring the privileged
aristocratic · patrician · technocratic · meritocratic · insider
anti-eliteestablishmentarian
Supporter of official institutions
elitist · plutocratic · oligarchic · bourgeois · neoliberal
anti-elitestatus quo
Existing condition of affairs
institutionalist · centrist · mainstream · conventional · orthodox