Overclass
Overclass is a pejorative[1][2] term for the most powerful group in a social hierarchy. Users of the term generally imply excessive and unjust privilege and exploitation of the rest of society.[3][4][5]
The word is fairly recent, with the Oxford English Dictionary including it only in December 2004,[6] but it has been in use since at least 1995. Some writers compare it to the more familiar underclass:
The influence of the actions by the overclass have been rigorously studied, particularly with regards to notions of intersections between the overclass and specific races. Most notable of these racial overclasses is the NEWBO, or NEW Black Overclass in America.[7]
Perhaps the most commonly agreed-upon "overclass" consists of leaders in international business, finance and the arms trade.[8]
See also
- Lists of billionaires
- Oligarchy
- Power elite
- Ruling class
- Transnational capitalist class (also see Superclass)
- Upper class
- Underclass
References
Further reading
- Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Template:Spaced ndash Newsweek cover story on "How the new elite scrambled up the merit ladder—and wants to stay there any way it can."
External links
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- ↑ The next American nation: the new nationalism and the fourth American revolution – Michael Lind – Google Books
- ↑ Fighting Poverty, Inequality and Injustice: A Manifesto Inspired by Peter ... - Google Books
- ↑ Chronicles – Rockford Institute – Google Books
- ↑ This Land Is Their Land: Reports from a Divided Nation – Barbara Ehrenreich – Google Books
- ↑ Delight of the Overclass! Demise of the Middleclass! - Jay T. Baldwin - Google Books
- ↑ Quarterly updates to OED Online
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".