Circulation Of Elites By Vifredo Pareto

Circulation of Elites is a concept developed by Vilfredo Pareto, which argues that in every society, power is always held by a minority elite, but this elite is not fixed. Instead, elites continuously circulate, as new groups rise to power while old ones decline. Pareto distinguishes between different types of elites, such as “lions” (forceful, conservative) and “foxes” (cunning, innovative), and suggests that stability depends on a balance between them. The concept challenges the idea of true equality, showing that power shifts between elites rather than disappearing.