What is a society ruled by a few people?

What is a society ruled by a few people?

Oligarchy, meaning “rule of the few”, is a form of power structure in which power rests with a small number of people. These people might be distinguished by nobility, wealth, family ties, education or corporate, religious or military control.

What government is ruled by a small number of people?

Oligarchy
Oligarchy is a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with a small number of people.

What is it called when political power is held by a small group of people?

oligarchy, government by the few, especially despotic power exercised by a small and privileged group for corrupt or selfish purposes. Oligarchies in which members of the ruling group are wealthy or exercise their power through their wealth are known as plutocracies.

What is a oligarchy ruled by?

Broadly speaking, an oligarchy is a form of government characterized by the rule of a few persons or families. More specifically, the term was used by Greek philosopher Aristotle in contrast to aristocracy, which was another term to describe rule by a privileged few.

What are the 8 types of government?

There are many different forms of government but really just eight apply to us today.

• Absolute Monarchy (absolutism)
• Limited Monarchy (Constitutional Monarchy)
• Representative Democracy.
• Direct democracy.
• Dictatorship.
• Oligarchy.
• Totalitarianism.
• Theocracy.

What is an example of oligarchy?

Examples of a historical oligarchies are Sparta and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. A modern example of oligarchy could be seen in South Africa during the 20th century. Capitalism as a social system, exemplified most notably by the United States, is sometimes described as an oligarchy.

Where is an oligarchy most common?

One of the most well-known oligarchies is Russia. An oligarchy has ruled Russia since the 1400s. Those who are wealthy in Russia have to maintain contacts within the government or lose their power.

What type of government is run by the richest and most powerful citizens?

A plutocracy (Greek: πλοῦτος, ploutos, ‘wealth’ and κράτος, kratos, ‘power’) or plutarchy is a society that is ruled or controlled by people of great wealth or income.

What is the difference between an oligarchy and a plutocracy?

Oligarchy refers to the government system ruled and controlled by a small group of privileged people whereas plutocracy refers to the government system ruled and controlled by a wealthy minority.