The most common definition of oligarchy, from the International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, is a form of government in which political power is in the hands of a small minority. What that means is that a smaller group of people holds power over the bigger group of population. Oligarchy is in contrast to democracy, and as a political system, is complex and has specific elements. Read on to discover what makes one political regime an oligarchy and how to recognize oligarchic elements.How Do We Define an Oligarchy?The Moneychangers, Marinus van Reymerswale, the first half of the 16th century. Source: Wikimedia Commons/Hermitage Museum, Saint PetersburgEvery political system and form of government has its particular features that can be investigated on a scientific and cultural basis.The word oligarchy comes from ancient Greek. It is formed from the words oligos, meaning few, and rkhein, meaning to rule.As a phenomenon, oligarchy is studied by political, sociological, and economic scientists. Political scientists usually define it as a government in which a relatively small group wields authority over a larger part of the population. That small group normally originates from a similar society, usually from the upper class, or belongs to the same political party.Unlike political scholars, social scientists explain oligarchy as a concentration of power within a select group of elite people while the rest, the majority, have limited input in decision-making processes. Economists, on the other hand, define it as a scenario where several big corporations control the market, leading to monopolistic situations.With that being said, there are some standard characteristics of oligarchy. So, what is an oligarchy? To recognize an oligarchic regime, one can look for the following clues:Almost every oligarchy has an unequal balance of power;Participation in political processes is limited, and democratic practices are often absent;Politics are easily influenced by money and power;Opposition is silenced and threatened in different ways, including banning the freedom of speech, spreading false information, or even using force against them;There is usually a show of democracy in the facade of society, like staged elections or the existence of certain institutions.Now that we know what to look for, we can identify six different types of oligarchy: economic, political, corporate, military, social, and religious.Economic, Political, and Corporate OligarchyIron and Coal, William Bell Scott, 1855-1860. Source: Wikimedia Commons/National Trust, WallingtonAn economic oligarchy is a state of affairs in which the ruling group has a higher level of authority due to their ability to control the states industry by their financial and social position. Its name itself says itthe ruling class controls large industries, such as banking, technology, or energy. Thus, laws and political decisions are made to serve their interests, much to the detriment of the majority of the population. In an economic oligarchy, political leaders are for sale, and rather than representing the whole state, they support the industrial barons who finance their political campaigns and careers.A political oligarchy as a form of government arises when political power is accorded to a few personalities or parties. These oligarchs manipulate political processes by bribery, coalition, or by manipulating the electoral system. Quite frequently, political leadership is hereditary, and this is done in many cases by authoritarian means. As a result, the primary characteristic of political oligarchy is that the different and opposing views in decision-making processes are silenced, restrained, and excluded.A corporate oligarchy is very much like an economic one, but it refers to the control of a few large business organizations over the political and economic decisions of a state. These corporations usually dictate national policies and elections due to the imperatives of their fields and departments. In particular, their boards of directors set the pace for politicians and the state.Indeed, corporations find ways to influence the government and the political structure through lobbying, campaign contributions, and similar tactics. This way of governing results in a dangerous form of oligarchy where corporations directly shape policies and laws to their advantage.Military, Social, and Religious OligarchyLa Magnanimite de Lycurgue, Jean-Jacques-Francois Le Barbier, 1791. Source: Wikimedia Commons/Museum of Fine Arts, BostonA military oligarchy is a type of political regime where a junta, a group of military leaders, exercises political power in a state. The most common method by which this type of oligarchy is created is through a coup dtat. The main feature is that generals or other high-ranking officers are the de facto rulers of these countries, relying on the military to stay in power and suppress everyone who disagrees.A social oligarchy is a political system where a certain social class dominates the society. The members of the elite use aristocratic lineage, elitism, or special social status as a means of justifying such authority. The main features of social oligarchy include the social elites control of cultural, political, and economic bodies.To wield this kind of power and input in such a political environment, one needs to have the right connections, belong to the right family, or have the right education. Politics and the formulation of policies are largely a preserve of a particular class, and the rest of the population is either uninvolved or has very limited participation in the decision-making process.A religious oligarchy, or theocracy, can be defined as a political system in which religious leaders or institutions exercise political power, stating that they rule by divine order. The most frequent feature of religious oligarchies is that political power is dictated through dogmatic religious doctrines. In other words, religious laws and regulations are applied to the laws and policies of a country. As a result, in such a political system, there is no distinction between religious and political authority, and there is no secularization.Oligarchy Throughout HistoryLeonidas at Thermopylae, Jacques-Louis David, 1814. Source: Wikimedia Commons/Louvre Museum, ParisKnown for its brave soldiers, Sparta was one of the most famous oligarchies in ancient history. A Greek polis (city-state) governed by a small group of elite warriors, Sparta was technically a dual monarchy. However, because it was ruled by a small cohort of people and prioritized military strength and stability, we can say that Sparta functioned as a military oligarchy. One of the most respected ancient philosophers, Aristotle, would consider Sparta an oligarchy because of the power of the few.Even though it is often associated with democracy, Athens was another Greek city-state that could be characterized as an oligarchy at certain times in its history. Thucydides and Xenophon, two of the most famous ancient historians and authors, described the emergence of oligarchy in Athens. In particular, they referred to the Thirty Tyrants in 404 BCE, the Spartan-imposed oligarchy after the Peloponnesian War.The School of Athens, Raphael, 1511. Source: Wikimedia Commons/Apostolic Palace, Vatican Museums, RomeIn medieval Europe, there were many aristocratic monarchies. Oligarchic elements could often be seen and found in the feudal system, where power was held by noble families who controlled the land and crucial resources.This kind of political situation often meant that, although the king was formally a monarch, the actual power belonged to lords and aristocratic clans who possessed a large measure of self-governance within their provinces. They had armed forces and wealth and implemented specific politics in their lands, where they behaved like oligarchs.The Entrance to the Grand Canal, Canaletto, circa 1730. Source: Wikimedia Commons/Museum of Fine Arts, HustonIn the late medieval period and on the eve of the Early Modern Era, a few Italian city-states were oligarchic or partly oligarchic. They were controlled and governed by wealthy businessmen and aristocrats.The most well-known examples were Florence and the Republic of Venice. While both of them were formally considered to be a republic, the political and economic power belonged to the noble families and the merchant class. The rest of the populace did not have much say in the decision-making process.In the late modern period, with the beginning of industrialization and the birth of capitalism, a lot of countries were oligarchically governed by industrial leaders and corporations. One of the most familiar cases of this new oligarchic condition is the so-called Gilded Age in the United States of America.Sacramento Railroad Station, Carl Wilhelm Hahn, 1874. Source: Wikimedia Commons/Fine Arts Museum, San FranciscoEven though the Gilded Age was characterized by an opulent lifestyle, it also saw the rise of families like the Rockefellers and the Carnegies, who grew extremely affluent and politically powerful. They bought elections, politicians, and the Senate to get policies and laws that would benefit their business, thus creating monopolies. In some areas, corporations dominated the government even in terms of power.The Impact of Oligarchy on SocietyThe Masses, Hunger and Capitalism, drawn by Hahn-Notecracker, The Masses vol. 1 n. 2, 1911. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThe effect of oligarchy on society is complex and consists of multiple levels. Oligarchic regimes have played a crucial role in shaping many parts of todays society. Oligarchies, for example, are deemed to foster an increased centralization of economic and political power.According to the influential economist Thomas Piketty, such regimes are beneficial to the elites and the wealthy. As money and power are concentrated, social mobility becomes almost out of sight. A regime that is dominated by oligarchs will always side with a few as compared to the rest of the population.One of the key impacts of oligarchy on society is the initiation of the destruction of democratic processes and norms. Whenever decision-making is centralized, the larger population feels as if they have no say or their say does not count. Such a political climate often leads to political and social instability resulting from distrust in the political institutions.The bosses of the Senate, Joseph Keppler, January 23, 1889. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThroughout history, oligarchies, or political systems with oligarchic tendencies, have led to revolutionary actions, armed struggles, and violent conflicts. Oligarchy is also one of the factors behind the emergence of populismwhich can also undermine some democratic gains.However, democracy and democratic processes are also more valuable when oligarchy is a viable possibility. Indeed, the looming threat of oligarchy reminds citizens of the importance of protecting political freedoms and fair elections. On the contrary, in an oligarchic regime, there is no democratic equality. As a result, many people are left without having a say in matters concerning their livelihoods and future.Oligarchy is a disadvantageous system of governance because it undermines freedom, democracy, and development. Overall, it maintains elitism and the rule of the few over the many.Further reading:Piketty, T. (2014). Capital in the Twenty-First Century. Harvard University Press.