Oligarchic dictatorships
In a world where “oligarchy” often sounds like a relic from a dusty history book, you might think that this form of rule is only of academic interest. But scratch the shiny varnish of modern democracies and you will often find the unpolished metal of oligarchic structures underneath. The oligarchic dictatorship, a system in which power is concentrated in the hands of a few rich people, is not fiction from dystopian novels, but a reality that many people around the world experience every day.
What constitutes an oligarchy?
In political theory, “oligarchy” refers to a form of government in which a small group of people, often characterised by wealth, family or military control, hold power. This elite group makes decisions that serve their interests, often at the expense of the common good. The term itself comes from the Greek, where “oligos” means little and “archein” means to rule – literally “the rule of the few”.
Oligarchies today
The modern oligarchic dictatorship does not necessarily have to be the product of coups d’état or inheritance. In many cases, it arises through seemingly democratic processes in which elections are manipulated through massive financial resources, media control and lobbying. A prime example? Russia under Vladimir Putin is often described as an oligarchy in which key industries and media are controlled by a tight circle around the president. But oligarchic traits are also unmistakable in the “free world”. Just think of the immense power exercised by large corporations and their CEOs in the USA and elsewhere.
The oligarchy in the mirror of entertainment
Pop culture has vividly taken up the concept of oligarchy and often dramatised it. Films such as “Elysium” and books such as George Orwell’s “1984” or “The Iron Heel” by Jack London depict worlds in which the oligarchy divides society and creates a clear divide between the “haves” and the “have-nots”. Although these depictions are fictional, they shed a sharp light on the darker side of real political systems in which inequality is on the rise.
The oligarchy under the magnifying glass
Science, especially political economy and sociology, analyses how oligarchies emerge and persist. Studies show that oligarchic regimes are often characterised by networks of mutual support and the failure of political institutions to control wealth and power. Ironically, oligarchies can provide a degree of stability, which explains why they persist in some regions for long periods of time despite obvious disadvantages.
The satirical unmasking
Nothing exposes the absurdity of oligarchic dictatorships better than a good satirical stab. From the “Yes Men” activist group, which uses fake press releases and faked events to draw attention to the machinations of large corporations, to TV shows such as “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”, which regularly shed light on the involvement of business tycoons in political processes, satire uses humour as a weapon against the often deceptive respectability of oligarchic rule.
The future of oligarchy
Although the challenge of fighting deeply rooted oligarchic structures is enormous, history shows that no regime is immutable. With increasing global networking and information sharing, awareness of the mechanisms that support and enable oligarchies is growing. The hope remains that this knowledge can serve as the basis for a fairer, truly democratic society in which power truly lies with the people and not with a privileged elite. Or, to put it with a wink: perhaps it is time for the “few” to make some room – for the many.
