The present invention provides a switching element in which an organic bistable material is disposed between two electrodes, this element having a high ratio of ON current to OFF current, a high threshold voltage, and a small spread. A switching element in which an organic bistable material layer comprising an organic bistable material having two stable values of resistance with respect to the applied voltage is disposed between at least two electrodes, wherein an organic material layer is provided between the organic bistable material layer and at least one of the electrodes. Electrically conductive fine particles are preferably dispersed in the organic materials layer.