Oligarchy
['ɒlɪgɑːkɪ] or ['ɑlə'gɑrki]
Definition
(noun.) a political system governed by a few people; 'one of his cardinal convictions was that Britain was not run as a democracy but as an oligarchy'; 'the big cities were notoriously in the hands of the oligarchy of local businessmen'.
Typist: Moira--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) A form of government in which the supreme power is placed in the hands of a few persons; also, those who form the ruling few.
Edited by Abraham
Definition
n. government by a small exclusive class: a state governed by such: a small body of men who have the supreme power of a state in their hands.—n. Ol′igarch a member of an oligarchy.—adjs. Oligarch′al Oligarch′ic -al pertaining to an oligarchy.
Editor: Margie
Examples
- Tyranny springs from democracy much as democracy springs from oligarchy. Plato. The Republic.
- And then, although they may have no desire of change, the others charge them with plotting against the people and being friends of oligarchy? Plato. The Republic.
- This, then, will be the first great defect of oligarchy? Plato. The Republic.
- And the insatiable desire of wealth and the neglect of all other things for the sake of money-getting was also the ruin of oligarchy? Plato. The Republic.
- Well, I said, and how does the change from oligarchy into democracy arise? Plato. The Republic.
- The next form of government is oligarchy, in which the rule is of the rich only; nor is it difficult to see how such a State arises. Plato. The Republic.
- And does not tyranny spring from democracy in the same manner as democracy from oligarchy--I mean, after a sort? Plato. The Republic.
- I believe that oligarchy follows next in order. Plato. The Republic.
- Thus much of the origin,--let us next consider the evils of oligarchy. Plato. The Republic.
- Yes, he said; at any rate the individual out of whom he came is like the State out of which oligarchy came. Plato. The Republic.
- And this, speaking generally, is the way in which oligarchy is established. Plato. The Republic.
- Ought I not to begin by describing how the change from timocracy to oligarchy arises? Plato. The Republic.
- You will remember that in the oligarchy were found two classes--rogues and paupers, whom we compared to drones with and without stings. Plato. The Republic.
- For the majority in these semi-democratic times is often as not a cloak for the ruling oligarchy. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- Then oligarchy, or the form of government in which the rulers are elected for their wealth, may now be dismissed. Plato. The Republic.
- Almost every crusade leaves behind it a trail of yearning royalists; many good-government clubs are little would-be oligarchies. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- The evil is certainly not prevented there; for oligarchies have both the extremes of great wealth and utter poverty. Plato. The Republic.
Edited by Ian