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oligarchy

oligarchy Oligarchy is government by a small number of people, usually with an unfavorable implication.

Oligarchy is government by a small number of people, usually with an unfavorable implication. In the historical contrast given here, it is set against aristocracy, which was treated as rule by the “best.”

Also see

Sources

Drafting source: Baldwin Dictionary of Philosophy and Psychology, 1901. 1901 New York Macmillan original; archive index checked 2026-10-18. “Aristocracy” (Aristocracy).
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PsychTerms (psychterms.org), CC BY 4.0, version 1. “oligarchy.” Development preview.

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