antielitism
Opposing intellectual hierarchy
Antielitism is opposition to elites—people or groups perceived as having disproportionate power, privilege, or influence.
The stance appears across the political spectrum: populists rail against coastal elites, while progressives target corporate elites.
His antielitism appealed to working-class voters.
The term often carries a whiff of resentment, suggesting suspicion of expertise or established authority.
Advocate for ordinary citizens
- commonfolkOrdinary citizens collectively
- everymanOrdinary representative person
- proletariatLaborers lacking capital ownership
- vox populiVoice of the people
mainstream · populace · anti-establishment · common sense · working class · ordinary people · plain folks · man on the street
Rule by the rich
- oligarchyRule by few
- aristocracyRule by hereditary elite
- privilegeExclusive right or benefit
- snobberyPretentious social superiority
exclusivity · nepotism · cronyism · hierarchy · classism · entitlement · bourgeoisie · patrician
Absence of confidence
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- cynicismDistrust of human sincerity
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
- challengeTest of ability
debunking · credentialism · expertise · technocrat · intellectual · ivory tower · establishment · out of touch
Philosophy of universal equality
- representationDepiction or likeness
- suffrageRight to cast ballots
- votingFormally registering a choice
- enfranchisementGranting citizenship rights
civic · citizenship · accountability · participation · pluralism · majoritarian · deliberation · republic
Direct effort for reform
- organizingSystematically putting in order
- communityCollective of connected people
- localismPreference for nearby things
- collectiveJointly organized group
movement · empowerment · solidarity · rank-and-file · masses · base · volunteerism · neighborhood
Just and equal treatment
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- parityState of being equal
- inclusivityPractice of welcoming all
- equal rightsIdentical legal protections
justice · accessibility · impartiality · leveling · non-discrimination · even-handedness · egalitarian · unbiased
populist
Advocate for ordinary citizens
- commonfolkOrdinary citizens collectively
- everymanOrdinary representative person
- proletariatLaborers lacking capital ownership
vox populi · mainstream · populace · anti-establishment · common sense · working class · ordinary people · plain folks · man on the street · blue collar
plutocracy
Rule by the rich
- oligarchyRule by few
- aristocracyRule by hereditary elite
- privilegeExclusive right or benefit
snobbery · exclusivity · nepotism · cronyism · hierarchy · classism · entitlement · bourgeoisie · patrician · favoritism
distrust
Absence of confidence
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- cynicismDistrust of human sincerity
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
challenge · debunking · credentialism · expertise · technocrat · intellectual · ivory tower · establishment · out of touch · insider
egalitarianism
Philosophy of universal equality
- representationDepiction or likeness
- suffrageRight to cast ballots
- votingFormally registering a choice
enfranchisement · civic · citizenship · accountability · participation · pluralism · majoritarian · deliberation · republic · governance
activism
Direct effort for reform
- organizingSystematically putting in order
- communityCollective of connected people
- localismPreference for nearby things
collective · movement · empowerment · solidarity · rank-and-file · masses · base · volunteerism · neighborhood · advocacy
fairness
Just and equal treatment
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- parityState of being equal
- inclusivityPractice of welcoming all
equal rights · justice · accessibility · impartiality · leveling · non-discrimination · even-handedness · egalitarian · unbiased · meritocracy
antielitismelitism
Preference for privileged rule
snobbery · classism · exclusivism · credentialism · noblesse oblige
antielitismestablishmentarianism
Support for existing institutions