W. E. B. Du Bois

Like Nemesis of Greek tragedy, the central problem of America after the Civil War, as before, was the black man: those four million souls whom the nation had used and degraded, and on whom the South had built an oligarchy similar to the colonial imperialism of today, erected on cheap colored labor and raising raw material for manufacture.

American Writer

Naomi Wolf

If you look at weak democracies, the oligarchies that have taken undue control of them always seek to tamper with the vote. It is important for oligarchs to have elections to give their guy a veneer of legitimacy - and important for the vote always to turn out 'their way.

American Author

Finn Jones

The power should be in individual democracies in individual communities. It shouldn't be an oligarchy or some small group of elite. Power should be with the people and not with some politician or some heir to the throne or some madman.

English Actor

Gilbert K. Chesterton

Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to that arrogant oligarchy who merely happen to be walking around.

English Writer

Jimmy Carter

We've become, now, an oligarchy instead of a democracy. I think that's been the worst damage to the basic moral and ethical standards to the American political system that I've ever seen in my life.

American President

Henry James Sumner Maine

Our authorities leave us no doubt that the trust lodged with the oligarchy was sometimes abused, but it certainly ought not to be regarded as a mere usurpation or engine of tyranny.

English Historian

Montesquieu

The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy is not so dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a democracy.

French Philosopher

Henry A. Wallace

We must not tolerate oppressive government or industrial oligarchy in the form of monopolies and cartels.

American Vice President

Lysander Spooner

A slave government is an oligarchy; and one, too, of the most arbitrary and criminal character.

American Philosopher

Pat Robertson

It's the tyranny of an oligarchy that I'm concerned about.

American Clergyman

Understand that 'oligarchy' emphasizes control by few often due to wealth or family status.

Power Dynamics

'Oligarchy' usually suggests unfairness or lack of democracy.

Negative Connotations

Used in discussions about politics, power structures, or historical governments.

Context Specific

In business, 'oligarchy' implies a few individuals control decisions, like a board of directors.

Corporate Context

Used to describe group dominance in various organizations, not just governments.

Cultural References

Refers to a power imbalance, where few benefit at the expense of others.

Inequality Implication

 which was engulfed by civil wars that straddled the ideological divide of the Cold War. In Guatemala, the central government -- controlled by a oligarchy of European decent -- was waging a scorched Earth campaign against an indigenous rebellion,

My photographs bear...

 with their anti-Catholic extremism and nonstop executions of everyone who disagreed with them. And The Directory that replaced them was an unstable and incompetent oligarchy. They needed a strong leader who could govern wisely and justly."

History vs. Napoleon...

 really really specialized that whole social system another interesting one of course are baboons with an oligarchy which basically is a few individuals have a particular influence based on

Oligarchy

Power Dynamics

Negative Connotations

Context Specific

Compare with

Never forget "Oligarchy"

WordUp Chrome Extension