circulation of élites

circulation of élites

PARETO's term for the endless cycle of renewal and replacement of ÉLITES, in which political élites of one type are replaced by another. The tendency Pareto described was for élites with one psychological orientation, lions (distinguished by their possession of conservative 'S entiments’ conducive to ‘the persistence of aggregates), to alternate with more innovative, but more untrustworthy, foxes (distinguished by their ‘instinct for combinations’). See also RESIDUES AND DERIVATIONS, ÉLITE THEORY.