Establishment

Establishment is a generalized, mostly negative term used in western societies to refer to the controlling (elite) structures of those societies. The "establishment" is often said to be holding a lock on wealth and political power. Mostly est. is used as its abbreviation.

An "establishment" is often understood to compose an elite group of wealthy, influencial families, many of whom are involved in politics and business. They are often friends with one another, or at least very involved in and aware of each others' affairs. As a result, they are expected to be a generally cooperative group that works together to maintain a status quo that most favous their interests.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the "establishment" was seen as representing restrictive, authoritarian policies. It was associated with age, as the old fashioned way of doing things, and was said to be dominated by members of the war generation who had not yet adapted or accepted the big societial changes of the decade.

There may be different establishments within different institutions. For example, candidates for political office are often said to have to impress the "party establishment" in order to win endorsement.

An establishment can also mean a place of business or residence, the founding of such a place, or the founding of a business.

Sociologically, one who does not belong to "the establishment", is an "outsider" - see Norbert Elias, The Established and the Outsiders (1965), and Scientific Establishments and Hierarchies (ed. with others) (1982).