Oligarchy
Rule by a small, often wealthy, minority.
Oligarchy is a form of government in which power rests with a small number of people, often characterized by titles of nobility or high amounts of wealth. The term originates from Ancient Greek, combining 'oligos' (few) and 'arkho' (to rule). Some commentators use the concept more broadly to describe modern political systems where the wealthy wield disproportionate political influence, noting that oligarchy can coexist with democratic institutions and does not require the wealthy to hold formal government positions.
- origin
- Ancient Greece
- etymology
- From Greek 'oligarkhia' (rule by few)
- first systematic theorist
- Aristotle
- key modern theorist
- Robert Michels
- associated concept
- Iron law of oligarchy
- modern examples cited
- Colombia, Indonesia, Russia, Singapore, United States
Lore & Background
Aristotle pioneered the use of the term as meaning rule by the rich, contrasting it with aristocracy, arguing that oligarchy was a corruption of aristocracy. In ancient Athens, the Eupatridae aristocratic elite held power until the tyrant Pisistratus dismantled this structure in the mid-6th century BC. After Pisistratus's sons Hippias and Hipparchus became increasingly unpopular, the exiled aristocrat Cleisthenes, with Spartan help, overthrew Hippias in 510 BC, but Cleomenes installed Isagoras as an oligarch. Cleisthenes later mobilized the middle class and overthrew Isagoras in the 508–507 BC Athenian Revolution, laying the foundation for Athenian democracy.
Reader's Guide
Oligarchy has been a recurring form of government across history, from ancient Greek city-states to modern nations. The concept was expanded by Robert Michels in the early 20th century with his iron law of oligarchy, arguing that even democracies tend to become oligarchic due to the necessity of dividing labor, resulting in a ruling class focused on maintaining power. In modern contexts, analysts have described countries such as Colombia, Indonesia, Russia, Singapore, and the United States as oligarchies. The term also applies to business groups that are the largest private owners, possess sufficient political power to influence their interests, and control multiple businesses across sectors. Examples include the rise of Russian oligarchs after the Soviet Union's dissolution and the persistence of corporate oligarchy in the Philippines under various presidencies. The legacy of oligarchy is its tension with democratic ideals, as wealthy elites can wield disproportionate influence even within democratic institutions.
Did You Know?
- The Thirty Tyrants, an oligarchy that ruled Athens from 404 BC to 403 BC, killed 5% of the Athenian population during their eight-month reign.
- Aristotle contrasted oligarchy with aristocracy, considering oligarchy a corruption of aristocracy.
- Robert Michels's iron law of oligarchy states that even large democratic organizations tend to become oligarchic.
- In 1996, Russian oligarchs, especially the Seven Bankers, funded Boris Yeltsin's re-election campaign.
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