What is an oligarchy? Term meaning

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:43

The oligarchy began to interest ancient thinkers. The first authors who described this phenomenon in their treatises are Plato and Aristotle. So what is an oligarchy in the understanding of ancient Greek philosophers?

Oligarchy in the teachings of Plato

One of the brightest ancient Greek authors is Plato. It is his works that form the basis for the study of most political science disciplines. Such treatises as "The State", "Apology of Socrates", "Politia" and others are subjected to a comprehensive analysis. It is in them that he talks about the problems of his time, in particular, raises the question of the best form of government. In other words, it provides answers to questions about what is oligarchy, democracy, polity, tyranny, timocracy, etc.

Clear meaning of the word "oligarchy" Plato does not give, as he considers this form of government in comparison with others, highlighting its characteristic features. However, by this term he means the state structure, which is based on property qualification. In other words, only the financially we althy are at the helm, while the poor do not even have the right to vote.

According toAccording to the thinker, the oligarchy refers to a single galaxy of perverted forms of government. This socio-social system is gradually reborn from timocracy, embodying the worst vices in life. Virtue ceases to play a significant role in politics, as we alth takes its place. The oligarchic system rests only on armed force, and not on respect and reverence for the sovereign. Most of the population is below the poverty line, and the ruling elite does not even try to take steps to overcome this trend. Oligarchy also implies a redistribution, and unfair, of the social benefits that exist in society.

Thus, according to the teachings of Plato, a just state and an oligarchy are incompatible with each other. But it is impossible to avoid the degeneration of timocracy into this form of socio-economic structure of society.

Oligarchy in the teachings of Aristotle

Aristotle was a student of Plato, so in many ways he continued the research of his teacher. In particular, in his scientific works, he began to consider the question of what an oligarchy is. The philosopher believed that this form of government, just like democracy and tyranny, are perverted types of socio-political system.

In the treatise "Politics" Aristotle put into the meaning of the word "oligarchy" the whole essence of the politics of that time, in other words, he said that this form implies the power of the rich. It is in the oligarchic state that increased attention will be paid to the benefits of those in power,members of the we althy class. The philosopher considered this system to be imperfect, as he argued that there is the possibility of "buying" a place under the sun, so such a structure of society is not stable.

R. Michels concept

What is an oligarchy? Much attention was paid to this issue at various times, including in the 20th century. In particular, a colossal contribution to the study of this phenomenon was made by R. Michels, who at the beginning of the 20th century announced his concept, which was later called the “iron law of the oligarchy”. The philosopher believed that any socio-social structure of society ultimately degenerates into an oligarchy, regardless of what foundation was laid in them - democratic or autocratic.

The main reason for this trend is the desire of a public leader to stand at the head of government and put his own interests in the forefront, including financial ones. At the same time, the crowd impeccably trusts their sovereign, blindly obeying all his orders, acting in the form of laws.

Varieties of oligarchy

Today, political scientists who study this phenomenon distinguish four different types of oligarchy, each of which has unique characteristics and features:

Monooligarchy. This social system arises in those states where all sovereign power is concentrated in the hands of a monarchical ruler. It does not matter if it is theocratic or secular. But the main difference is that the monarch createshierarchical structure, whose activities are primarily aimed at enrichment. In some cases, the will of such a social structure is much stronger and higher in rank than that of the monarch. An example is the feudal system.
Demoligarchy. As the name implies, there is a mixture of democracy and oligarchy, which manifests itself in the fact that a people with sovereignty transfers all power to a small oligarchic group through elections or a referendum.

Transit oligarchy. This type of social structure is transitional. It arises when the monarch has already lost all power, and the people have not yet become sovereign. It is during this unstable period that the oligarchy tries to play the leading role, which tries to stay in power by any means.
The enraged oligarchy. In this case, rich people, in order to stay in power, do not try to justify their position with sovereignty. On the contrary, they use illegal types of influence on society, including violence and lies.

Boyar oligarchy is a trend of the past

Some researchers, in addition to the 4 types of oligarchy mentioned above, also distinguish the fifth type - boyar. This form of arrangement was characteristic of Novgorod and Pskov in the period from the 12th to the 15th century. At that time, at the slightest weakening of power in the hands of the monarchical ruler, the oligarchic group in the form of the most influential boyars tried to win over sovereignty.

In other words, theywanted to remake the foundation of the state, giving it the basic features of an oligarchy.

Prospects for the oligarchy in the modern world

Today, the oligarchy has become one of the key topics for discussion in the territory of the states of the former USSR. If we analyze the situation of the last 15-20 years, we can conclude that the dictatorship of the oligarchs is only gaining momentum, in particular, on the territory of the Russian Federation.

The government builds its policy in such a way as to close the issue of the predominance of the oligarchs in the government. But despite all attempts to find a solution to this problem does not work so far. Therefore, the prospects for the oligarchy in Russia, and indeed throughout the modern world, are rather sad, as this can cause destabilization of the political situation in states that have embarked on a democratic path of development.