Aristocracy is a kind ofgovernment that puts power in the hands of a small, privilegedruling class.[1] The word aristocracycomes fromAncient Greek, in which "aristocracy" meansthe rule of the best, but it hascome to mean rule byNobility. The word aristocracy can also be used to refer to the ruling class of an aristocracy. A member of the aristocracy is called anaristocrat.
There are different kinds of aristocracy with different ways the government is set up. Historically, most aristocracies werehereditary, which means members of the ruling group passed on their roles to theirheir after they died or gave up their role (abdication). In most cases, this was their oldest living son; daughters were usually excluded, or only made heir if there were no living sons. Aristocracies have often hadhigher and lower roles within them; for example, the role ofduke/duchess is higher than the role ofbaron/baroness.
Monarchy - (inherited rule by a single individual) One person, called the monarch, is the highest ranking member of the aristocracy, and his or her family is said to be the rulingdynasty, or ruling family. Underfeudalism, monarchs would give hereditary aristocratic titles to people, who were consideredvassals, or subjects, of their monarch. In some monarchies, like ancientJapan under theShogunate, the monarch doesn't have as much power as other parts of the aristocracy. Inconstitutional monarchies, people with aristocratic titles, including the monarch, have little to no decision making power. These monarchies are usuallydemocracies, not aristocracies.
Autocracy - (all power in one person) Aristocracies in an autocratic society tend to be very small, usually only the autocrat's family or close friends.
Plutocracy - (rule by the wealthy) The aristocracy is usually made up of the richest people. Sometimes it is not enough just to be rich, you must also be from a special family orethnic group.
Oligarchy - (rule by the few) All aristocracies are also oligarchies.
These types of governments are founded onideals that see aristocracies as unfair, unefficient, and to be avoided. It is considered to becorrupt for small ruling groups to form in these kinds of government.
Meritocracy - (rule by those who are the most able) This system of government seeks to bring the most capable people into positions of power. For example, people who do well onexaminations or do well at work while outside of power might be brought into power. The original idea of aristocracy, developed inAncient Greece byphilosophers likeAristotle andPlato, was very similar to meritocracy. Hereditary aristocrats also often saw themselves as being the most capable people to rule.
Technocracy- A specific kind of meritocracy in which decisions regarding specific fields, likehealthcare andagriculture, are made by people who are skilled in those fields.
Democracy - (rule by the people) Decisions are made bymajority rule (direct democracy) or by rulerselected by the people they represent (representative democracy). There are usually not official groups of aristocrats in a democracy. However, rich and famous people sometimes informally form a group of people who get special treatment.
