Oligarchy
noun
A kind of government where a small group holds power.
The nation was ruled by an oligarchy, with all the power in the hands of a few politicians.
Often appears as...
- political oligarchy
- economic oligarchy
noun
A small group controlling a society or organization.
The company is run like an oligarchy, where only a few board members make all the decisions.
Often appears as...
- business oligarchy
- corporate oligarchy
noun
A kind of government where a small group holds power.
The nation was ruled by an oligarchy, with all the power in the hands of a few politicians.
Often appears as...
- political oligarchy
- economic oligarchy
noun
A small group controlling a society or organization.
The company is run like an oligarchy, where only a few board members make all the decisions.
Often appears as...
- business oligarchy
- corporate oligarchy
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Power Dynamics
Understand that 'oligarchy' emphasizes control by few often due to wealth or family status.
Philanthropic as it was, the city's foundation rested on an oligarchy.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotations
'Oligarchy' usually suggests unfairness or lack of democracy.
Citizens protested the oligarchy that ignored their voices.
Pro Tip 3/3Context Specific
Used in discussions about politics, power structures, or historical governments.
The debate focused on the transition from monarchy to oligarchy.
Pro Tip 1/3Power Dynamics
Understand that 'oligarchy' emphasizes control by few often due to wealth or family status.
Philanthropic as it was, the city's foundation rested on an oligarchy.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotations
'Oligarchy' usually suggests unfairness or lack of democracy.
Citizens protested the oligarchy that ignored their voices.
Pro Tip 3/3Context Specific
Used in discussions about politics, power structures, or historical governments.
The debate focused on the transition from monarchy to oligarchy.
Pro Tip 1/3Power Dynamics
Understand that 'oligarchy' emphasizes control by few often due to wealth or family status.
Philanthropic as it was, the city's foundation rested on an oligarchy.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotations
'Oligarchy' usually suggests unfairness or lack of democracy.
Citizens protested the oligarchy that ignored their voices.
Pro Tip 3/3Context Specific
Used in discussions about politics, power structures, or historical governments.
The debate focused on the transition from monarchy to oligarchy.
Compare with
aristocracyautocracydespotismdictatorshipelitemonarchyplutocracytotalitarianism
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Video examples
My photographs bear...
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,
Video examples
History vs. Napoleon...
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."
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 380 PIPE...
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
Video examples
My photographs bear...
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,
Video examples
History vs. Napoleon...
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."
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 380 PIPE...
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
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
W. E. B. Du Bois
American Writer
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.
Quote examples
Naomi Wolf
American Author
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.
Quote examples
Finn Jones
English Actor
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.
Quote examples
Gilbert K. Chesterton
English Writer
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.
Quote examples
Jimmy Carter
American President
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.
Quote examples
Henry James Sumner Maine
English Historian
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.
Quote examples
Montesquieu
French Philosopher
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.
Quote examples
Henry A. Wallace
American Vice President
We must not tolerate oppressive government or industrial oligarchy in the form of monopolies and cartels.
Quote examples
Lysander Spooner
American Philosopher
A slave government is an oligarchy; and one, too, of the most arbitrary and criminal character.
Quote examples
Pat Robertson
American Clergyman
It's the tyranny of an oligarchy that I'm concerned about.
Quote examples
W. E. B. Du Bois
American Writer
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.
Quote examples
Naomi Wolf
American Author
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.
Quote examples
Finn Jones
English Actor
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.
Quote examples
Gilbert K. Chesterton
English Writer
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.
Quote examples
Jimmy Carter
American President
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.
Quote examples
Henry James Sumner Maine
English Historian
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.
Quote examples
Montesquieu
French Philosopher
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.
Quote examples
Henry A. Wallace
American Vice President
We must not tolerate oppressive government or industrial oligarchy in the form of monopolies and cartels.
Quote examples
Lysander Spooner
American Philosopher
A slave government is an oligarchy; and one, too, of the most arbitrary and criminal character.
Quote examples
Pat Robertson
American Clergyman
It's the tyranny of an oligarchy that I'm concerned about.
Example 1 of 10
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