Oligarchy facts for kids

An oligarchy is a type of government where a small group of people holds all the power. These people might be rich, famous, well-educated, or control important parts of society like businesses, religions, politics, or the military.

Throughout history, people have often seen oligarchies as unfair. They usually rely on people obeying them, or sometimes on forcing people to obey. The ancient Greek thinker Aristotle used the word "oligarchy" to mean "rule by the rich." He saw it as different from an aristocracy, which he thought was rule by the best people.

Different Kinds of Oligarchies

When a Small Group Rules

Sometimes, a small group of people from a specific religious or ethnic background can take control. This is a form of oligarchy.

For example:

• In South Africa during apartheid, a small white minority ruled over the much larger Black population.
• Liberia was once ruled by Americo-Liberians, who were descendants of freed American slaves.
• The Sultanate of Zanzibar and Rhodesia also had similar situations.

In these cases, the small ruling group often gained power because of colonialism, where one country took control of another.

In the early 1900s, a thinker named Robert Michels studied this idea. He suggested that even democracies and other large organizations can become oligarchies. This happens because they need to divide up tasks, and eventually, a small group of leaders forms. These leaders then focus on keeping their own power. This idea is called the Iron Law of Oligarchy.

Business Oligarchies

Sometimes, powerful business groups can act like an oligarchy. This happens if they meet certain rules:

• They own the most private property in a country.
• They have enough political power to get laws passed that help their businesses.
• The same owners control many different types of businesses, working together across different areas.

Rule by Smart People

The writer George Bernard Shaw talked about an "intellectual oligarchy" in his play Major Barbara (1907). He meant a society where very smart people, like lawyers, doctors, or professors, have too much control.

Shaw believed that everyday people should have more power. He wanted to give regular people "weapons" against these intellectual leaders. He felt that if smart people gained too much authority, they could become dangerous and unfair rulers. He hoped that a strong democracy could make sure these smart people used their talents for the good of everyone, or else lose their power.

Images for kids

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  "The Bosses of the Senate" shows powerful corporate interests as giant money bags watching over senators.

See also

In Spanish: Oligarquía para niños