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 is a oligarchy government?
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 are some examples of oligarchy?
Three of the most well-known countries with oligarchies are Russia, China, and Iran . Other examples are Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and apartheid-era South Africa. Some critics would call the U.S. an oligarchy as well.
What is the definition of oligarchy quizlet?
oligarchy means “rule by the few” 2. few people hold all the power based on military strength, family power, or religious force. 3. Oligarchies can often come from or lead to other forms of government like monarchies and dictatorships.
What does oligarchy mean in Greece?
In an oligarchy government, the power to make decisions is in the hands of two to three rich men , usually called oligarchs or kings. The word oligarchy comes from the Greek root words oligos (which means “few”) and arkhein (which means “rule”).
Which country is an example of an oligarchy?
One of the most well-known oligarchies is Russia . An oligarchy has ruled Russia since the 1400s. Those who are wealthy in Russia have to maintain contacts within the government or lose their power.
Who holds 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 is a synonym for oligarchy?
autocracy , oppression, domination, cruelty, authoritarianism, despotism, totalitarianism, coercion, terrorism, absolutism, severity, monocracy, fascism, totality, imperiousness, high-handedness, unreasonableness, reign of terror, peremptoriness.
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.”
What is the difference between a democracy and an oligarchy?
Oligarchy vs Democracy
Oligarchy is a ruling system in which only a few number of privileged people get the power over ruling and decision-making in a political system. ... Democracy, in contrast, is a political system where general public gets the opportunity to select the suitable candidates for the power.
What are some characteristics of 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 is a characteristic of an oligarchy quizlet?
Characteristics. The people think the government is unfair, untrustworthy, and they fear the leaders . Authority . The leaders of the oligarchy government are usually a small group of people within the society. Choosing a leader.
What is the correct definition of oligarchy Brainly?
a small group of people having control of a country or organization .
What was the first oligarchy?
Webster’s Dictionary defines an oligarchy as, “a government in which a small group exercises control.” The root of the word, oligarchy, comes from a Greek word meaning, “few.” In Ancient Greece, oligarchies were especially common as early as 800 B.C. and in some places, like the city-state of Athens, the oligarchical ...
What replaced oligarchy in ancient Greece?
The Athenian coup of 411 BC was the result of a revolution that took place during the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. The coup overthrew the democratic government of ancient Athens and replaced it with a short-lived oligarchy known as the Four Hundred.
How did Greece use democracy?
Democracy in Ancient Greece was very direct. What this means is that all the citizens voted on all the laws . Rather than vote for representatives, like we do, each citizen was expected to vote for every law. They did have officials to run the government, however.
