Crachach (Welsh pronunciation: [ˈkraχaχ]) is a pejorative term used to refer to a perceived Welsh-speaking interconnected elite who control the arts, media, civil service and higher education sectors in Wales.
[1] The term translates as "petty gentry", "conceited upstarts", or "snobs", but has developed into a wider populist conspiracy theory.
The broader theories claim that the Welsh-speaking elite dominate influential positions in the arts, politics, academia and the media largely on the basis of their Welsh language knowledge.
[8] Simon Brooks has written that crachach 'is best described as "hate speech" against those from a minority (i.e. Welsh-speaking) background who have the impunity not to be poor, and not to be bullied into giving up their own culture'.
Opposing Conservative politicians at the time responded to his comments by stating the term is merely "challenging a cosy consensus within the arts world in Wales.
"[3] Among English-speaking political commentators, the theory is often employed to suggest the existence of a Welsh-speaking elite whose interests are opposed to those of the majority of the Welsh people.
However since the development of the National Assembly for Wales in the late 1990s and the legislature's policy of increasing the number of Welsh speakers, it has been used in debate often by critics of the language and of devolution more broadly.
[12] Supremely confident in all social situations, you can spot them by their habit of looking over your left shoulder as they scan the room for someone more important than you to talk to.