According to Aristotle, oligarchy refers to the concentration of the supreme power in the hands of a few. However, oligarchs usually achieved the leading role by their wealth instead of their eminence. The first written evidence about this autocrat political system appeared around 411 BCE in ancient Greek masterpieces, when a small group of influential and prosperous people abolished democracy in Athens (Herber et al. 24). Throughout the history of mankind the oligarchs were present in the Western as well as Eastern kingdoms in Europe. Since the middle ages, they usually wielded power simultaneously with the legal ruler. Although this phenomenon has been diminished in modern political history, it is still actively present in one country: the Russian Federation. Russia has always been seen as an exceptional country with its bizarre history and unfathomable politics, where the oligarchs are believed to possess most of the wealth of the Russian society. Their case is more than intriguing as they exercise enormous influence both on the economy and politics. How did these privileged people come into power? What is their actual impact on the economy and to what extent was their political influence restricted in the past few years in the Russian Federation?
In modern context, the term Russian oligarchs refers to extremely wealthy business magnates. Prior to the disintegration of the USSR a relatively small group of influential people had already existed within the borders: the ’nomenklatura’. Many of the former oligarchs held strong positions as Soviet-era functionaries, such as deputy ministers, department heads, who were either working for the Soviet government or supervising several enterprises (Braguinsky 316). After the collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1991, the already influential figures “converted their de facto control into ownership rights” (Guriev and
...oved to be singularly influential and daunting. This is, perhaps, the greatest obstacles to achieving true democracy in Russia—the authoritarian and repressive traditions that refuse to die out with the passage of time.
Moss, W., 2014. A History of Russia Volume 2: Since 1855. 1st ed. London, England: Anthem Press London, pp.112-113.
While most of Europe had develop strong central governments and weakened the power of the nobles, Russia had lagged behind the times and still had serfs as late as 1861. The economic development that followed the emancipation of peasants in the rest of Europe created strong industrial and tax bases in those nations. Russian monarchs had attempted some level of reforms to address this inequality for almost a century before, and were indeed on their way to “economic maturity” (32) on par with the rest of Europe. But they overextended themselves and the crushing defeats of the Russo-Japanese War in 1905 and the First World War in 1917 lost them the necessary support from their subjects and created “high prices and scarcity” which were by far “the most obvious factors in the general tension”
Ilya Zemstov was a Russian political expert and professor who lives in the Soviet Union. He wrote countless books, including “Encyclopedia of Soviet Life,” “The Private Life of the Soviet Elite,” and “Chernenko: The Last Bolshevik: The Soviet Union on the Eve of Perestroika.” The other author, Professor John Hynes Farrar, is a professor in Corporate Governance and Commercial Law in the Business and Economics division at the University of Auckland. He wrote many articles on economics and reformation, including “Law Reform and the Law of Commission” and “Introduction to Legal Method.”
There is also a wide variety of oligarchies. In one type there is an arrangement where there are a few property requirements in order to be in office, other arrangements require that the son has to succeed the father, in others the officials rule rather than the law. As stated in the Aristotle’s Politics “it is evident, then, that those regimes which look to the common advantage are correct regimes according to what is unqualifiedly just, while those which look only to the advantage of the rulers are errant, and are all deviations from the correct regimes; for they involve mastery, but the city is a community of free persons.” (Lord, 2013, 1279a-18)
Oligarchy is valued above a democracy although they are both ruled by the appetite of the soul. Those within an oligarchy pursue necessary appetites whereas democratic individuals pursue unnecessary appetites. Rulers are present...
...was full of ambitions and strong charisma could change from poor citizen into a magnate. Many young people at that time knew that only the strongest can survive in Russia, therefore the clans were created who defended their ideas and in the most cases kill their opponents who tried to stop them from getting rich. Bold heads and leather jackets were the signs of Russian gangs. These clans were racketing all businesses that had big profits, that is why they have started to gain power and money. The Russian criminals are very similar to the Cosa Nostra, they started from nothing and gained famous reputation and power. The Cosa Nostra gave Russians an idea that everyone can have their own rules and set of commands. Nobody is going to stop them if they have power and money, nobody has the right to command them, they are criminals and criminal always get what they want.
In order to understand organized crime in Russia today and its affect on the Russian economy, one must examine its roots in the Soviet Union. Although many acknowledge the existence of crime syndicates in the USSR, few are aware of their extent during the 70’s, 80’s, and early 90’s. As early as the 1970’s, the Russian mafia had advanced to the status of primary protectors and beneficiaries in the robust Soviet shadow economy (Anderson, 1995, 341...
Czars were the rulers of the Russian monarchy. They held the supreme power. Czars ruled Russia from nearly the 16th century until the Bolskevik revolution in 1917. The word Czar was taken from the Latin word Caesar, which were the titles of Roman rulers. The beginning of Russian Czars began with Ivan the Terrible and ended with Nicholas II. They ruled for nearly 350 years.
In an oligarchy only a few are chosen to rule. A small group usually made out of the rich decides everything for the people. Like the laws, leaders, and other important political things. Poor people otherwise known as peasants had no say in the government. This idea of government was introduced during during the time of Ancient Greece. This type of government is great for people with money but if you don’t you don’t have a say in government at all, at least if you're alone. This is
In the 19th century, Tsarist Russia was in need of various significant reforms and changes. Westernizers and Slavophiles had varied points of view about how Russia should be governed and what to be done with the crumbling country. Slavophiles believed in conserving traditional Russian autocracy and Russian culture and tradition, while Westernizers sought to modernize and adopt western beliefs and systems. These two viewpoints can be generalized into two main categories; liberal and conservative. From the years 1855-1881, Alexander II led the autocracy. He was known to by many as the “great reformer”, because he emancipated the serfs and put in place many other radical reforms. After the assassination of Alexander II, his son, Alexander
In summation this paper discussed the three correct types of regimes according to Aristotle; furthermore it examined the deviations of these regimes. This was done by firstly examining a regime led by royalty, secondly by observing the characteristics of an aristocratic regime and thirdly by discussing a regime ran by constitutional government. Finally defining the three correct types of regimes the deviations of these regimes: tyrannical, oligarchic and democratic were examined.
The universal uniform laws of development ensured Russia would eventually share Western Europe’s socio-economic and political structure, and as proof he noted that contemporary Russia’s economy was forcing the state to play less of a role and that social groups were becoming independent.”
The reign of Nicholas II catalysed the downfall of Tsardom. His lack of concern for civil liberties and political sternness directly lead to the revolutions. However, it was not just the weak leading of Tsar Nicholas II but rather the whole system of autocracy that was to blame for Russia’s misfortune, with its ideology fundamentally primitive and oppressive towards the greater population. The Russian society was formed around a hierarchy that was inefficient and degenerate to those below. This would lead to economic and social problems for the people of Russia, as well as a lack of progression and eventually, downfall.
"From Autocracy to Oligarchy." The Structure of Soviet History: Essays and Documents. Ed. Ronald Grigor. Suny. New York: Oxford UP, 2003. 340-50. Print.