Consequences of Rethinking in Elite Concept

There are mechanisms and institutions in every society that are related to elite and elite people issues, and shape an elite system. Overall, elite system must include special functions such as recognition, absorbing (or attracting), conducting (more than education), working, supporting, respecting (or glorification), lifestyle making and maintaining (or keeping). Each of these functions becomes operational based on the perception of a society about the concepts of elite and elite people. In fact, this is the common perception of concepts that shapes institutions, their interrelationships, and their missions. But, the growth and development of that perception, based on studies and experiences, make rethinking about those concepts necessary. In this article, based on a system analysis, the concepts of elite and elite people are reconsidered and rethought. The results indicate that the main problem of approaches to talent systems is caused by common perception of the concept of elite: The perception that is only based on the concepts of giftedness and talent and does not take other aspects of elite concept, such as expertise and social interactions, into consideration.