Oligarchy

Oligarchy is a system of government in which a small group holds political power, often through wealth, family ties, or military influence.

Elite theory: A theory that political power is concentrated in a small, organized minority in complex societies. It explains how oligarchic influence can persist even where institutions appear democratic.
Thirty Tyrants: A Spartan-backed oligarchic regime that governed Athens in 404–403 BCE. Its brief rule illustrates oligarchic power imposed after military defeat.
Democracy: A system of government in which political authority ultimately rests with the people, directly or through representatives. Its ideal of broad political participation contrasts with oligarchic concentration.
Political inequality: Unequal distribution of political influence, representation, or access to public decision-making. Oligarchy makes unequal influence a defining feature of governance.
Political patronage: The distribution of public positions or benefits in exchange for political support. Patronage lets rulers build loyal networks that sustain a narrow governing coalition.
Venetian Republic: A maritime republic governed for centuries by institutions dominated by a hereditary patrician class. Venice shows how a ruling elite could institutionalize its dominance over generations.
Autocracy: A system of government in which one person holds supreme political power. It concentrates rule in a single leader rather than a small group.
Wealth inequality: The uneven distribution of assets and net worth among people or groups. Large wealth gaps can supply the resources that entrench a narrow ruling group.
Clientelism: A political system of reciprocal exchanges between patrons and clients, often involving targeted benefits and support. Oligarchs can use selective favors to secure support without broad policy concessions.
Roman Republic: An ancient Roman state whose political institutions were dominated for much of its history by wealthy aristocratic families. Its mixed institutions coexisted with strong aristocratic control.

Linked from 21 pages