Oligarchy

Quick Facts: Who was Oligarchy?

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Oligarchy

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A system of government where power is concentrated in the hands of a small, elite group.

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Origins & Early Life

Oligarchy (from Ancient Greek ὀλιγαρχία (oligarkhía) 'rule by few'; from ὀλίγος (olígos) 'few' and ἄρχω (árkhō) 'to rule, command') is a form of government in which power rests with a small number of people. Leaders of such regimes are often referred to as oligarchs, and generally are characterized by having titles of nobility or high amounts of wealth. The consolidation of power by a dominant minority, whether religious or ethnic, can be considered a form of oligarchy. In these cases, oligarchic rule was often tied to the legacy of colonialism. In the early 20th century, Robert Michels expanded on this idea in his iron law of oligarchy, arguing that even democracies, like all large organizations, tend to become oligarchic due to the necessity of dividing labor, which ultimately results in a ruling class focused on maintaining its power.

Career & Major Achievements

Business groups may be considered oligarchies if they meet the following criteria: They are the largest private owners in the country. They possess sufficient political power to influence their own interests. The owners control multiple businesses, coordinating activities across sectors. Many classical philosophers and thinkers opined about the characteristics of oligarchy. 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.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Xenophon spoke in favor of a moderate oligarchy, though criticized the repressive regime of the Thirty Tyrants of Athens. Polybius viewed oligarchy as a form of perverted aristocracy. The Ancient Greek word oligarchia is used by historians of Ancient Greece to describe the position of the Eupatridae, the aristocratic elite, of the city-state of Athens before the succession of the tyrant Pisistratus in the mid-6th century BC, who dismantled this structure and replaced it with a semi-popular autocratic system. In 510 BC, the influential and exiled Athenian aristocrat Cleisthenes, of the powerful Alcmaeonid clan, convinced King Cleomenes I of Sparta to invade Athens, in order to overthrow Hippias. Cleomenes installed Isagoras, Cleisthenes's rival, as an oligarch.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Oligarchy

True or False: “The oligarchic rule established by the Thirty Tyrants in Athens lasted for several years following the Peloponnesian War.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The reign of the Thirty Tyrants was extremely brief, lasting only eight months after the Athenian surrender.

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