Autocracy, Monarchy and Oligarchy
Autocracy
Definition: Autocracy is a form of government where one person has unlimited power.
Also known as/ related to: One form of an autocracy is a dictatorship where a military leader secures power often
through violent means. Another form of autocracy is an absolute monarchy where a person becomes the sole leader
of a country by being born into a family of rulers. Birth order and gender often determine who becomes a ruler in a
monarchy, including an absolute monarchy.
Explanation: A dictatorship is a government headed by a dictator.
Originally a military office, the dictator had absolute power, but for a limited time.
In the twentieth century, the term dictatorship has come to mean a government in which absolute power is
concentrated in the hands of a dictator and sometimes his closest associates. Many dictators have held the formal
title of "President", but they often hold unlimited, often non-constitutional powers.
Dictators can come to power in a variety of ways. They can be elected, be appointed by the ruling party, or inherit
their position. Still other modern dictators take power using violence and are supported by the military. The dictator
generally controls the three government powers: legislative, executive and judicial.
In a dictatorship, there are no elections. Sometimes dictators can first obtain power from democratic elections, but
shortly after being elected the dictator will ban all opposing parties and cancel all future elections. Though free
elections will never occur under a dictatorship, sometimes dictators arrange for phony elections in an attempt to
grant themselves the appearance of democracy and public support.
For most of history dictatorship has been the most common form of rule. In early European history power was held
by a variety of absolute monarchs who ruled their kingdoms with mostly unlimited powers. As the years went on,
support for the people ruling themselves, and the rule of law, began to spread, and so too did the rise of constitutions
and democracy. Monarchs lost most of their powers to elected legislature and in some cases were ended altogether,
and replaced by republics.
When World War Two ended, there was a widespread "dumping" of former European colonies in Asia and Africa.
In many cases independence was granted to these territories before it should have been, and many of these new
nations quickly collapsed into a military dictatorship. The post-WW2 Cold War between the Soviet Union and the
United States of America greatly affected global dictatorships, with many of the world's dictators able to hold on to
power by respecting the interests of the U.S. and the Soviet Union. When the Cold War ended, many dictatorships
(including the Soviet Union itself) quickly collapsed and were replaced by democratic governments.
Today, dictatorship has reached a global low. South and Latin America, which were once largely controlled by the
rule of the military, are now largely free and democratic, as well. Dictatorships remain in certain regions of Africa,
Asia, and most of the Middle East. A new global commitment to human rights has also helped force many dictators
out of favor, and prevent the rise of new ones. Today, dictators and dictatorship members are often held accountable
for their acts, such as through the United Nations.
North Korea
Form of Government
Head of Government
(2012)
Role of the Citizen
Autocracy
Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un (assumed office in 2011)
The people elect the Supreme People’s Assembly; however, only one
candidate for each seat who has been selected by the Democratic Front for
the Reunification of the Fatherland appears on the ballot.
Monarchy
Definition: Monarchy is a form of government in which power is held by a single person whose right to rule is
based on birth and who has the power to remain in office for life.
Explanation: Monarchy is a form of government in which power is held by a single person whose right to rule is
based on birth (that person is born into a family of kings and queens) and who has the power to remain in office for
life. The power of this sovereign may vary; there are absolute monarchies (a type of autocracy) and constitutional
monarchies, where the monarch is strongly limited by a constitution that outlines a rule of law. Monarchy has
existed since about 3000 BC and was often established during periods of threat or crisis because it provided an
efficient focus of power.
In most countries with monarchies, the monarch serves as a symbol of strength and statehood. Many countries have
strong rules against the monarch becoming involved in partisan politics. In some cases, a monarchy based on birth
exists, but actual power resides in the military. On several occasions throughout history, the same person has served
as monarch of separate independent countries.
Since 1800, many of the world's monarchies have become republics. Democratic self-government has been
established and extended to such an extent that a true operating monarchy is not in place anywhere in the world.
Most countries which retain monarchy have limited the monarch's power, with most having become constitutional
monarchies. In the 20th century, monarchs have generally become symbols of national unity, while real power has
been transferred to constitutional assemblies. Most remaining monarchies in place today are in the Middle East.
England's monarchy was famously limited by the Magna Carta of 1215.
One interesting example is Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom who took power in 1952. As Queen of the
United Kingdom, she is the constitutional monarch of 16 governments including Australia, Canada, New Zealand,
South Africa and Jamaica, among others. Queen Elizabeth has no real power although she formally appoints highranking members of the Church of England based on advice that she receives from the Prime Minister of the United
Kingdom. This power comes from Queen Elizabeth being the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Queen
Elizabeth’s limited powers are quite different compared with the powers held by King George III from whom the
colonists declared independence in 1776.
The rules for choosing monarchs varies from country to country. In constitutional monarchies the rule of succession
is generally found in a law passed by parliament. Most European monarchies of the 21st century pass power from the
oldest male and then the oldest female if no males are qualified although other constitutional monarchies allow only
males to serve as monarchs.
Monarchies can come to an end in several ways. There may be a revolution in which the monarchy is overthrown; or
there may be a referendum in which the electorate decides to form a republic. In some cases, the monarchy may be
overthrown and then restored.
Spain
Form of Government
Head of Government
(2012)
Role of the Citizen
Monarchy
King Juan Carlos I (assumed office in 1975)
Prime Minister The Most Excellent Don Mariano Rajoy (assumed office in
2011)
The people elect the Congress of Deputies and the Senate through a multiparty system. The Congress of Deputies and the Senate are together known
as the Cortes Generales, the Spanish Parliament.
Brunei
Form of Government
Head of Government
(2012)
Role of the Citizen
Absolute Monarchy
Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah (assumed office in 1967) also services
as Brunei’s Prime Minister, Finance Minister and Defense Minister
None
Oligarchy
Definition: Oligarchy is a form of government where most political power is held by a small group in a society,
usually the wealthy.
Explanation: Oligarchy means the rule of the few, and those few are generally the people who are richer and more
powerful than the others. Because those with power in oligarchies are generally the rich in a society, oligarchies are
generally bad for the poor.
People who rule in oligarchies may be elected, born into their positions, or may have a certain amount of money or
land which entitles them to be a part of the ruling group.
Oligarchies are often controlled by a few powerful families whose children are raised and taught to inherit the power
of the oligarchy, often at some sort of expense to those who are governed. This power may not always be exercised
openly as there may be oligarchs who prefer to exercise control through economic methods. It has also been
suggested that most communist countries fit the definition of oligarchy.
Oligarchies may also become instruments of change, insisting that monarchs or dictators share power, thereby
opening the door to power-sharing by other elements of society. One example of this process occurred when English
nobles banded together in 1215 to force a reluctant King John I of England to sign the Magna Carta, which showed
recognition both of King John's decreasing political power and recognition that an oligarchy was coming into place.
As English society continued to grow and develop, the Magna Carta was repeatedly revised (1216, 1217, and 1225),
guaranteeing greater rights to greater numbers of people, thus setting the stage for British constitutional monarchy.
Oligarchy was first identified as a form of government by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. In modern times there
have been a number of oligarchies which sometimes pose as democracies.
In ancient Greece an oligarchy meant a constitution where a portion of the community was in possession of power.
At that time, although it was acknowledged that an aristocracy often developed into an oligarchy, the two were
distinguished: ‘oligarchy’ meaning the government of the wealthy, who were looked upon as directing their efforts
towards their own betterment and the maintenance of their own power and privileges, while ‘aristocracy’ meant the
rule of the best people for the public good.
There are some who argue that the United States is an informal or hidden oligarchy because power in the U.S.
republic is limited to the few who are wealthy. The few who are elected in the U.S. tend to be wealthier and better
educated than those they represent.
Iran
Form of Government
Head of Government
(2012)
Role of the Citizen
Religious Oligarchy (Theocracy)
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (assumed office in 1989 on the death of
Ayatollah Khomeini)
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (assumed office in 2005)
The people elect the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament)