Definition
A form of government where power is concentrated in the hands of a small number of people, typically distinguished by wealth, family ties, education, or military control. These few individuals make decisions for the entire society without broad popular input.
Etymology
From Greek 'oligarkhia,' combining 'oligos' (few) and 'arkhein' (to rule), literally meaning 'rule by few.' Ancient Greek political theorists like Aristotle used this term to describe one of the basic forms of government, contrasting it with democracy and monarchy.
Kelly Says
Modern Russia's oligarchy of wealthy businessmen who gained power after the Soviet collapse shows how economic inequality can translate into political control, echoing ancient concerns about the rich dominating society. Many political scientists argue that extreme wealth concentration in democracies can create 'oligarchic tendencies' even within formally democratic systems.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
oligarchy
o-li-gar-kee
ARالعربية
oligarchy
o-li-gar-kee
BNবাংলা
oligarchy
o-li-gar-kee
CACatalà
oligarquia
o-li-gar-kee-ah
CSČeština
oligarchie
o-li-gar-kee
DADansk
oligarki
o-li-gar-kee
DEDeutsch
Oligarchie
o-li-gar-kee
ELΕλληνικά
ολιγαρχία
o-li-gar-kee-ah
ESEspañol
oligarquía
oli-gar-kee-ah
FAفارسی
oligarchy
o-li-gar-kee
FISuomi
oligarkia
o-li-gar-kee-ah
FRFrançais
oligarchie
oli-gar-kee
GUGU
oligarchy
o-li-gar-kee
HAHA
oligarchy
o-li-gar-kee
HEעברית
אוליגרכיה
o-li-gar-kee-ah
HUMagyar
oligarchia
o-li-gar-kee-ah
IDBahasa Indonesia
oligarki
o-li-gar-kee
IGIG
oligarchy
o-li-gar-kee
ITItaliano
oligarchia
o-li-gar-kee-ah
JA日本語
寡頭政治
katō-seijitoku
KKKK
oligarchy
o-li-gar-kee
KMKM
oligarchy
o-li-gar-kee
KO한국어
oligarchy
o-li-gar-kee
MRMR
oligarchy
o-li-gar-kee
MSBahasa Melayu
oligarki
o-li-gar-kee
MYမြန်မာ
oligarchy
o-li-gar-kee
NLNederlands
oligarchie
o-li-gar-kee
NONorsk
oligarki
o-li-gar-kee
PAPA
oligarchy
o-li-gar-kee
PLPolski
oligarchia
o-li-gar-kee-ah
PTPortuguês
oligarquia
o-li-gar-kee-ah
RORomână
oligarhie
o-li-gar-hee-eh
RUРусский
олигархия
oli-gar-khiya
SVSvenska
oligarki
o-li-gar-kee
SWKiswahili
oligarchy
o-li-gar-kee
TAதமிழ்
oligarchy
o-li-gar-kee
TEతెలుగు
oligarchy
o-li-gar-kee
THไทย
อำนาจอภิสิทธิ์
am-na-ch-o-phi-sit
TLTL
oligarchy
o-li-gar-kee
TRTürkçe
oligarşi
o-li-gar-shee
UKУкраїнська
олігархія
o-li-gar-khiya
URاردو
oligarchy
o-li-gar-kee
VITiếng Việt
oligarchy
o-li-gar-kee
YOYO
oligarchy
o-li-gar-kee
ZUZU
oligarchy
o-li-gar-kee