Broadly speaking, an oligarchy is a form of government characterized by the rule of a few persons or families . More specifically, the term was used by Greek philosopher Aristotle in contrast to aristocracy, which was another term to describe rule by a privileged few.
What are the leaders of an oligarchy called?
The people who hold the power in an oligarchy are called “ oligarchs ” and are related by characteristics such as wealth, family, nobility, corporate interests, religion, politics, or military power.
How are leaders chosen in an oligarchy?
Most classic oligarchies have resulted when governing elites were recruited exclusively from a ruling caste —a hereditary social grouping that is set apart from the rest of society by religion, kinship, economic status, prestige, or even language. Such elites tend to exercise power in the interests of their own class.
oligarchy System of government in which power is concentrated in the hands of a few , who rule without the requirement of popular support and without external check on their authority. Oligarchs rule in their own interests.
What is the role of citizens in an oligarchy?
An Oligarchic has a small group of people who hold power. 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 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 is an example of an oligarchy?
Examples of a historical oligarchies are Sparta and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth . A modern example of oligarchy could be seen in South Africa during the 20th century. ... Capitalism as a social system, exemplified most notably by the United States, is sometimes described as an oligarchy.
What are the advantages of an oligarchy disadvantages?
- It encourages income inequality. ...
- It inhibits growth over time. ...
- It can disrupt the economy. ...
- It can be restrictive. ...
- It creates puppet leaders.
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 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 ...
How is an oligarchy different from a monarchy?
A monarchy is a form of government in a state is ruled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and rules for life or until abdication. Oligarchy is a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with a small number of people.
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 is the difference between an oligarchy and a monarchy sociology?
What is the difference between an oligarchy and a monarchy? a. Members of an oligarchy do not necessarily achieve their status based on ties to noble ancestry , while members of a monarchy do. ... Both are elected by a democratic process, but monarchies have the right to override the popular vote.
What is oligarchy in simple terms?
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 the two types of oligarchy?
The correct answer is D ( theocracy and communism ) because the definition of an oligarchy is when a group of people rules over a majority.
What is the opposite of oligarchy?
In this sense, oligarchy can be thought of as the opposite of democracy —at least based on the roots of each word. While oligarchy is the “rule of the few,” democracy is thought of as the “rule of the many”—demo– means “people” and –cracy means “rule.” (A dictatorship is the “rule of the one.”)
