oligarchy

Examples of oligarchy in the following topics:

• Non-Democratic Governments: Monarchy, Oligarchy, Technocracy, and Theocracy

  • Some nondemocratic governments can be classified into categories such as monarchies, oligarchies, theocracies and technocracies.
  • An example of an oligarchy would be the former Soviet Union where only members of the Communist Party were allowed to vote or hold office.
  • Oligarchy is a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with a small number of people.
  • Forms of government and other political structures associated with oligarchy usually include aristocracy, meritocracy, plutocracy, military junta, technocracy, and theocracy.

• Forms of Government

  • An oligarchy does not have one clear ruler, but several powerful people.
  • Some historical examples of oligarchy are the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Apartheid in South Africa.
  • An oligarchy is different from a true democracy because very few people are given the chance to change things.
  • An oligarchy does not have to be hereditary or monarchic.
  • An oligarchy does not have one clear ruler, but several powerful people.

• Span of Government

  • An oligarchy is different from a true democracy because very few people are given the chance to change things.
  • An oligarchy does not have to be hereditary or monarchic.
  • An oligarchy does not have one clear ruler, but several rulers.

• Democratic Governments

  • A democratic government contrasts two forms of government where power is either held by one, as in a monarchy, or where power is held by a small number of individuals, as in an oligarchy or aristocracy.

• Thinking Politically

  • According to Aristotle, States are classified into monarchies, aristocracies, timocracies, democracies, oligarchies, and tyrannies.