The Soul of Oligarchy: The Rule of the Few in Ancient Greece

Abstract

The Greeks of the Classical Era were familiar with many of the complications that could result from the traditional tripartite division of possible regimes into monarchy, oligarchy, and democracy. This article reexamines the definition and pragmatics of the “rule of the few.” It argues that the touchstone of oligarchic politics, a firm distinction between rulers and ruled, was the guiding principle for the arrangement and distribution of political offices, and a variety of different combinations of institutions and practices were able to achieve this end.

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