Forms of government: Difference between revisions

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== Greek word origins of forms of government ==
== Greek word origins of forms of government ==
* monarchy
* monarchy
** rule of one ("mono")
* aristocracy:
* aristocracy:
**rule of the best ("aristo")
*** is most easily understood as a social class as opposed to a form of government
*** is most easily understood as a social class as opposed to a form of government
*** as a form of government is a type of oligarchy
*** as a form of government is a type of oligarchy
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** in other oligarchies, the elites will rule to protect commercial or other interests
** in other oligarchies, the elites will rule to protect commercial or other interests
* oligarchy
* oligarchy
** rule by many ("oli")
** rule by elites
** rule by elites
* oligarchy v. aristocracy
* oligarchy v. aristocracy
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*** oli = "many" but only in the sense of more than rule by pure Aristocratic birth
*** oli = "many" but only in the sense of more than rule by pure Aristocratic birth
*** oli refers to spread of power to non-landed, non-hereditary elites
*** oli refers to spread of power to non-landed, non-hereditary elites
* tryanny
* tyranny
** rule by one but not a monarch
** power seized not inherited
* democracy
* democracy
** rule by the people ("demos")
* republic
** "res publica" = for the people
** rule by representatives selected by the people


=== Modern variations of Greek terms ===
=== Modern variations of Greek terms ===