Founders

The Italian school of elitism was founded by Vilfredo Pareto, Gaetano Mosca, and Robert Michels. It was influential in the theory of elites in the Western tradition. 
The main founders of the Italian school of elitism are:
Vilfredo Pareto:
Italian sociologist, economist, and philosopher, known for his theory of elite rule and the Pareto principle in economics.
Gaetano Mosca:
Political scientist noted for his theories on elitism and the structure of government.
Robert Michels:
German-Italian sociologist, known for his work on oligarchy in large organizations and political parties. 
These three men had a significant impact on elite theory and political sociology by presenting their views on how elites are formed and function in society.