This chapter explores the subjective views and self-perceptions of top-level civil society leaders in Italy and Sweden regarding the general elite and the civil society elite. Drawing on data from the Civil Society Elite Survey study, it examines how civil society leaders define and delineate the boundaries between these two elite groups. The analysis uncovers both similarities and differences across national contexts, revealing nuanced understandings of elite status, power dynamics, and the normative underpinnings that shape civil society elites’ positioning within broader power structures. Civil society leaders often frame themselves as wielding mediated influence and emphasise the organisational context as a key determinant of their elite status. Furthermore, they employ a normative lens to associate their elite status with positive attributes aligned with civil society values, contrasting themselves against perceived negative characteristics of the general elite. While acknowledging their own elite status, civil society elites perceive themselves as a counterweight to dominant power structures, championing solidarity, social justice, and democratic participation.