Alter Aeon The Great Library

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AABN:  4244
Title: a book entitled "Do you know your anarchy from your oligarchy?"

There exist a number of different methods of organising and controlling
power and listed below are the most common.

Anarchy is the complete lack of political systems. In a way, it is the
state of nature, where there are no rules and the strongest have power over
the weakest. Though nations might devolve into anarchy following internal
strife or natural disaster, anarchy cannot be sustained. At a minimum, an
anarchic nation will produce a tyrannical leader, and some sense of order
eventually develops.

In a dictatorship, one person has absolute power. Though there is typically
a military and a bureaucracy in such a nation, and though there are
typically laws to dictate everyday goings-on, the dictator has complete
discretion. Typically, the dictator takes on, or assumes, an aura of a
deity, or a cult of personality emerges. Dictatorial systems are often
based on military power, and the term "military dictatorship" is used.

An autocracy is the same as a dictatorship - but the term is often used to
convey something less sinister than "dictatorship" implies. An autocrat may
have less a cult of personality than a dictator has.

An oligarchy is, literally, rule by a few. Oligarchies are often the
evolution of dictatorships from rule by a single person to rule by a small
group of people. 

A theocracy is an oligarchy based on religion - the group is ruled by the
group's spiritual leaders. Religion is a powerful human phenomenon, and
religious leaders can often exert great influence over the group's actions.

A monarchy is best described in the same way that a dictatorship is. One
key difference is that dictatorship is used as a derisive term, and
monarchy is seen as much more benign. Historically, however, kings and
queens have been as brutal as many modern dictators. The major difference
is the transfer of power. In a dictatorship, power is often not transferred
at all - the death of the dictator signals the end of the dictatorship  or
it is transferred to a hand-picked successor. Monarchies typically have m
uch stricter, hereditary systems of succession, such that a monarch's
first-born son is elevated to king upon the monarch's death. 

Though the word "democracy" is used in many contexts today, strictly
speaking, a democracy is a system where the people rule. Each decision that
needs to be made is made by the people in toto. Such systems are tenable
only in groups up to a certain size - when larger, debate and voting become
lengthy and cumbersome.

In a plutocracy, the ones with the most resources are the ones who rule.
The most common place to see plutocracy in action is in emerging
democracies, where the leaders look to wealthy citizens for guidance on
governmental affairs. Such contacts do not necessarily have to approach
plutocracy, but because of the human propensity for attraction to wealth
and the human propensity for attraction to power, the combination of the
two can, at a minimum, radiate plutocratic features.

In an aristocracy, the upper class of citizens, however that might be
defined in any one society, holds the power. Heredity, or rule by right of
birth, plays a large role in continuing power. Aristocracy is closely
related to both plutocracy and monarchy. 

"Meritocracy" is a phrase that has some political baggage attached to it,
not so much as a political system in itself, but as a modifier of another
type of system. Colloquially, then, a meritocracy is a political system
whereby the most deserving people lead. But it does have a more formal
definition: where the leaders are chosen from the masses based on those who
have achieved the most. "Achievement" is a vague term, and can be
societally based, such as those who are the best educated, those with the
mos t money or land, or those with the most fame  in this way, an
aristocracy, plutocracy, or even a theocracy can be called a meritocracy.

A stratocracy is a government run directly by the military.  Stratocracies
are more commonly known as military dictatorships. There have been
relatively few pure stratocracies over time, though there have been many
nations with a strong military but with (at least nominal) civilian rule.

Cleptocracy: A cleptocracy is generally a more specific description of a
dictatorship: literally, a cleptocracy is a government sustained by
stealing. As such, the circle of power must necessarily be a small one. The
rulers and his or her inner circle steal national resources or the profits
thereof (such as diamonds or oil)  use foreign aid for personal gain  and
use the national treasury to further personal aims. Because such actions
would rarely be tolerated by an informed public, the press is often
complicit or government-run and democratic features like elections are for
show or are nonexistent.