Broadly speaking, an oligarchy is a form of government characterized by the rule of a few persons or families . ... Although the term has, generally, fallen out of favor, oligarchy is sometimes used to describe a government or society in which rulers are selected from a small class of elites.
What is a democracy government?
Democracy is government in which power and civic responsibility are exercised by all adult citi- zens , directly, or through their freely elected rep- resentatives. Democracy rests upon the principles of majority rule and individual rights.
What is oligarchy and its example?
1 : government by the few The corporation is ruled by oligarchy . 2 : a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes a military oligarchy was established in the country also : a group exercising such control An oligarchy ruled the nation.
Who holds the power in an oligarchy?
In an oligarchy (OH-lih-gar-kee), a small group of people has all the power . Oligarchy is a Greek word that means “rule by a few.” Sometimes this means that only a certain group has political rights, such as members of one political party, one social class, or one race.
What countries have an oligarchy government today?
- Russia.
- China.
- Saudi Arabia.
- Iran.
- Turkey.
- South Africa.
- North Korea.
- Venezuela.
What is the best definition of an oligarchy?
oligarchy, government by the few, especially despotic power exercised by a small and privileged group for corrupt or selfish purposes. ... In this sense, oligarchy is a debased form of aristocracy, which denotes government by the few in which power is vested in the best individuals .
What are some characteristics of an oligarchy?
The characteristics of an oligarchy include the act that the power is held in a very small group of people . These people may or may not be distinguished by one or several characteristics, such as nobility, fame, wealth, education, corporate, religious, political, or military control.
What are the 5 characteristics of a democracy?
- Elected representative.
- Civil liberties.
- Independent judiciary.
- Organised opposition party.
- Rule of law.
- Citizens in a democracy have not only rights but also the responsibility to participate in the political system.
What are the 3 main rules of democracy?
One theory holds that democracy requires three fundamental principles: upward control (sovereignty residing at the lowest levels of authority), political equality, and social norms by which individuals and institutions only consider acceptable acts that reflect the first two principles of upward control and political ...
What are the 3 types of democracy?
- Direct democracy.
- Representative democracy.
- Constitutional democracy.
- Monitory democracy.
What is the role of a citizen in an oligarchy?
In an Oligarchic citizens still cannot vote on their leaders . ... In a Democracy, the citizens hold the power because they are the ones who elect the leaders. Citizens have more power in a democracy than an autocratic or oligarchic government.
What are the disadvantages of an oligarchy?
- Wealth imbalance: Oligarchies increase income inequality. ...
- Impenetrable ruling class: As the insider group gains power, it seeks to keep it. ...
- Lack of diversity: Oligarchies can become stale. ...
- Restrictions on free-market economy: If an oligarchy takes too much power, it can restrict a free market.
What is it called when government controls everything?
Totalitarianism is an extreme version of authoritarianism – it is a political system where the state holds total authority over the society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life wherever necessary.
Is America a plutocracy?
According to Kevin Phillips, author and political strategist to Richard Nixon, the United States is a plutocracy in which there is a “fusion of money and government.”
Why is oligarchy the most common form of government?
One of the main pros of oligarchy is that it puts power in the hands of people who are often experts and can make informed decisions for the populous or company . It therefore is more efficient than every single person being able to make decisions, and can often free up people to focus on their own work or lives.
What country has a dictatorship now?
Current one-party states include China, Uganda, Cuba, Eritrea, Laos, North Korea and Vietnam , The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, which is not recognized by the UN, is also a one-party state.
