The Enduring Power—and Ultimate Weakness—of a Closed Society Among the many systems of governance in ancient Greece, Sparta stands apart as one of the most tightly controlled, militarised, and oligarchic. Built around a core of discipline and exclusivity, its rigid framework ensured internal stability for centuries—but at
When Equality Gives Way to Internal Hierarchies Socialism, in its most ambitious form, seeks to eliminate inequality and replace exploitative systems with collective ownership and shared power. But as many historical examples show, the road to equality has often ended in the emergence of a new elite. Despite promising to
How Elite Influence Persists Beneath Democratic Systems Democracy is often seen as the antidote to oligarchy—a system designed to distribute power fairly and reflect the will of the majority. But reality is more complicated. Across many democracies today, elite influence continues to shape outcomes, define policy, and control narratives.
Why Elites Thrive Across Regimes and Revolutions In political theory, few ideas are as consistently supported by historical evidence as elite theory—the belief that, regardless of ideology or institution, a small, powerful group will always emerge to control decision-making. This group, often defined by access to wealth, education, or
Why Oligarchy Is About Structure, Not Slogans What connects a wealthy democracy, a royal monarchy, and a revolutionary one-party state? Despite surface differences, all can operate under the same hidden principle: oligarchy. Defined not by ideology but by structure, oligarchy arises when power is concentrated in the hands of a
What Plato and Aristotle Taught Us About Power Oligarchy is not a new phenomenon. While modern societies grapple with the concentration of wealth and influence in the hands of a few, ancient Greek philosophers were already debating its consequences over two thousand years ago. In the Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series,
The Greek Transformation from Noble Rule to Economic Control The word “oligarch” often evokes modern power figures who use their wealth to shape political landscapes behind closed doors. But long before the term entered today’s headlines, it described a very different context—one rooted in the social and political
The Word “Oligarch” and the Women It Overlooks When people hear the word “oligarch,” they often picture a wealthy, influential man—someone who exerts power from the shadows, often tied to elite political or economic networks. But this image tells only part of the story. What about the women who
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