Definition

1. Noun:
   • A political system governed by a few people: A form of government or organization where power is concentrated in the hands of a small, privileged group, often based on wealth, family ties, military control, or corporate power.
   • The group of people holding such power: The small, dominant faction that controls a state or organization.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The country transitioned from a democracy to an oligarchy. (The country changed from being ruled by the people to being ruled by a small group.)
  • The corporate oligarchy controlled most of the nation's wealth and media. (The small group of corporate leaders held power over most of the nation's wealth and media.)

Advanced Usage

• "Iron law of oligarchy": A sociological theory, coined by Robert Michels, stating that any large organization, even a democratic one, will inevitably develop into an oligarchy where a small elite makes the key decisions.
  • The political party's evolution seemed to confirm the iron law of oligarchy.
• "Plutocratic oligarchy": A specific type where the ruling small group is defined by its great wealth.
  • Critics accused the state of being a plutocratic oligarchy.

Variants and Related Words

• Oligarch (n): A member or supporter of an oligarchy; a very rich business leader with significant political influence.
  • The Russian oligarchs amassed great fortunes after the fall of the Soviet Union.
• Oligarchic (adj): Relating to or characteristic of an oligarchy.
  • The regime's oligarchic structure prevented any real political competition.

Synonyms

• Plutocracy: Government by the wealthy.
• Autocracy: Government by one person with absolute power. (Note: While both involve concentrated power, an autocracy centers on one individual, whereas an oligarchy centers on a small group.)
• Junta: A military or political group that rules a country after taking power by force. (Often a specific type of oligarchy.)

Related Phrases

• To be ruled by an oligarchy: To be under the control of a small, powerful group.
  • For decades, the island nation was ruled by a corrupt oligarchy.
• Oligarchic control: The dominance exerted by a small group.
  • The oligarchic control of the industry stifled innovation.

Related Idioms

• A cabal of oligarchs: A small, secretive group of powerful people making decisions. (Cabal implies a secret plot, often used pejoratively with oligarchy).
  • Many believed the country's policies were set by a cabal of oligarchs.

Noun

1. 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