power elite
Those who decide
The power elite are the small group who hold disproportionate control over a society's political, economic, and military institutions.
The term comes from sociologist C.
Wright Mills's 1956 book arguing that American democracy was largely managed by interconnected leaders in government, corporations, and the military.
The phrase now describes any tight-knit group wielding outsized influence: The power elite don't want reform that threatens their position.
Those who decide leadership
- gatekeepersThose controlling entry
- decision-makersThose with choosing power
- policy-makersThose who establish official guidelines
- lobbyistsPaid political persuaders
movers · shakers · insiders · establishment · behind-the-scenes · backroom · access · connections
People with vast fortunes
- oligarchsWealthy few who govern
- plutocratsRulers through financial power
- tycoonsPowerful business leaders
- magnatesWealthy, powerful industrialists
financiers · industrialists · dynasties · fortunes · endowments · trusts · foundations · capitalism
Expert-led administrators
- bureaucratsAdministrative government employees
- mandarinsEasy-peel citrus fruits
- cabinetEnclosed storage furniture
- ministersReligious leaders or officials
senators · legislators · appointees · advisors · regulators · diplomats · statecraft · policy
War economy alliance
- captureTake into custody
- hegemonyDominant group's control
- reproductionCopying or procreation
- legitimationFormal recognition as lawful
stratification · concentration · interconnected · overlapping · institutional
Rule by hereditary elite
- nobilityTitled ruling class
- upper-crustSocial elite class
- establishmentFounded organization or venue
- pedigreeRecord of descent
Oxbridge · exclusive · membership · networks · debutantes · socialites · gentility · bloodlines
kingmakers
Those who decide leadership
- gatekeepersThose controlling entry
- decision-makersThose with choosing power
- policy-makersThose who establish official guidelines
lobbyists · movers · shakers · insiders · establishment · behind-the-scenes · backroom · access · connections · networking
billionaires
People with vast fortunes
- oligarchsWealthy few who govern
- plutocratsRulers through financial power
- tycoonsPowerful business leaders
magnates · financiers · industrialists · dynasties · fortunes · endowments · trusts · foundations · capitalism · concentration
technocrats
Expert-led administrators
- bureaucratsAdministrative government employees
- mandarinsEasy-peel citrus fruits
- cabinetEnclosed storage furniture
ministers · senators · legislators · appointees · advisors · regulators · diplomats · statecraft · policy · administration
military-industrial
War economy alliance
- captureTake into custody
- hegemonyDominant group's control
- reproductionCopying or procreation
legitimation · stratification · concentration · interconnected · overlapping · institutional
aristocracy
Rule by hereditary elite
- nobilityTitled ruling class
- upper-crustSocial elite class
- establishmentFounded organization or venue
pedigree · Oxbridge · exclusive · membership · networks · debutantes · socialites · gentility · bloodlines · lineage
- bigwigsbigwig, big shot, big wig, VIP, big kahuna
- social classupper class, middle class, lower class, working class, social class
- Corporate Powerlobbying, lobbyist, lobbyists, monopoly, oligarchy
- elite poweroligarchy, plutocracy, oligarch, plutocrat, oligarchs
- shadow powerpuppet master, puppeteer, string puller, string pulling, string-pulling
- social hierarchycaste system, caste, class, class system, ranks
power elitethe masses
Common populace collectively
common people · ordinary citizens · general public · rank and file · grassroots
power elitevoiceless
Having no voice
marginalized groups · subjects · constituents · disempowered
power eliteunderclass
Lowest socioeconomic group
working class · lower class · proletariat · peasantry · lumpenproletariat
power, powerful, elite, empower, powers, powerfully, powered, elitist, powering