Toward a Critical Approach of the Elite Theory

Since the emergence of the classical theory of elites (Pareto, Mosca, Michels), they receive response of approches, doctrines and theories anti-elitist. Between elite theory and critical approaches, it highlights Marxism, populism, pluralism and democracy theory. In this paper, I propose to capture the points of convergence and divergence between the elite theories and their critical approaches, emphasizing the tension between the idea of a society run by elites and democratic society. Democratic elitism is a theoretical approach that reconciles democracy theory to the theory of elites, "mass uprising" and "revolt of the elites', revolt against the global elite global corporations power. The conclusion of this essay would be that we live in an age where "mass uprising" and "revolt of the elites" are movements sometimes overlapping, sometimes in succession. XXI Century world is in turmoil and the answer to the problems facing humanity seems not to be found soon. Interesting is who should answer. Elites or the masses?