‘Elites’ has become ‘catch-all term of political opportunism,’ say experts

Trump and Leitch are among the politicians who have campaigned against ‘elites,’ despite being seen as elites themselves and there being ambiguity over what the term means.

Following Donald Trump’s election victory in the U.S. in November, Kellie Leitch posted on Facebook: 'Tonight, our American cousins threw out the elites and elected Donald Trump as their next president. It’s an exciting message and one that we need delivered in Canada as well.'The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

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BY DEREK ABMA

February 27, 2017

When politicians like Kellie Leitch and Donald Trump rail against “elites,” they are referring to a broad range of people seen as having influence on government, say experts. And they do it despite the fact that, given their backgrounds in business and/or politics, not to mention their economic...

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