Chapter 6
Interestingly, in Chapter 6, Aristotle once again goes over the variations of democratic and oligarchic regimes that he dealt with in Chapter 4 (democracy) and Chapter 5 (oligarchy).
The only key difference in the two accounts is found among the varieties of democracies, where in Chapter 4, there were five variations of democracy, but in Chapter 6, there are only 4. The account of chapter 6 thus compares 4 democracies to 4 oligarchies.
1. Varieties of Democracy
- Democracies Arise from Different Groups Sharing in the Regime:
- Aristotle begins by summarizing that multiple kinds of democracy arise based on whether all parts of the people participate in the regime or only some.
- The key distinction is whether participation is limited by property or other criteria, which shapes the nature of the democracy.
- First Type of Democracy: Farmers and Moderately Wealthy Rule:
- The first type of democracy occurs when the farming class and those with moderate property have authority over the regime.
- In this form, citizens are too busy working to attend frequent assemblies, so they leave governance to laws, attending only when necessary.
- This democracy is marked by a reliance on laws because the people are not wealthy enough to be at leisure to participate actively in politics.
- Second Type of Democracy: Based on Descent and Leisure:
- A second type arises when participation is open to all citizens of unquestioned descent (free-born citizens).
- However, only those who can afford to be at leisure (because they have enough property or revenue) actually participate in the regime.
- In this democracy, laws rule because those who participate in governance are constrained by economic realities and are not always able to devote their time to public affairs.
- Third Type of Democracy: Free Citizens Participate:
- In this type of democracy, participation is open to all free persons, but in practice, only those with sufficient means participate.
- Like the previous forms, this system is governed by laws, as the majority cannot afford to devote their time to political engagement.
- Fourth Type of Democracy: Rule of the Poor Majority:
- The final and most recent form of democracy arises in larger cities with abundant revenues, where even the poor can participate in politics because they receive pay for their public service.
- In this system, the poor are at leisure, while the wealthy, preoccupied with managing their estates, do not participate as actively.
- Consequently, the poor majority comes to dominate the regime, and laws are no longer in control; instead, the multitude (the poor) exercises direct authority.
2. Varieties of Oligarchy
- First Type of Oligarchy: Moderate Wealth and Larger Participation:
- The first type of oligarchy occurs when many citizens own moderate property, allowing a larger number of people to participate in the regime.
- Participation is based on a property assessment, and as there are many participants, laws have authority rather than individuals.
- In this form of oligarchy, the citizens are not wealthy enough to rule directly, and the rule of law becomes necessary to manage their interests.
- Second Type of Oligarchy: Fewer Wealthier Citizens:
- In the second type, there are fewer citizens who own larger properties, making them more powerful and allowing them to elect officials from among themselves.
- Although the property owners hold more power, they are still not strong enough to rule without the law, so they create laws to justify their governance.
- This form of oligarchy allows the wealthy to dominate the regime but still relies on the rule of law to maintain order.
- Third Type of Oligarchy: Hereditary Rule:
- In the third type, oligarchy becomes more restrictive, with sons succeeding their fathers in office, and the concentration of power is passed down through inheritance.
- This form is more exclusive and resembles a hereditary aristocracy, where wealth and political power are tightly controlled by a small group of families.
- Fourth Type of Oligarchy: Rule of the Powerful:
- The fourth and most extreme form of oligarchy is marked by the rule of the wealthy few, who have great property and tight-knit alliances.
- In this form, the ruling group becomes so powerful that they govern without regard for the law.
- This system parallels the final type of democracy, where the multitude rules without the law. Here, the oligarchs rule directly, and the system becomes close to monarchy in its concentration of power.
- Again, it is useful to repeat what was said in Chapter 5: Aristotle employs the Ancient Greek term δυναστεία (dunasteía), which translates to "lordship" or "dominion." This term encapsulates the notion of authority exercised by the powerful or those in a superior position. However, the term can also be understood through its connotations of hereditary power, aligning with the English word "dynasty." This interpretation highlights a dynastic structure, where power and influence are passed down through familial lines, thus intertwining the concepts of political authority and family lineage. Aristotle's use of dunasteía thus bridges the ideas of both personal dominion and the enduring nature of dynastic rule.
Key Themes and Concepts in Chapter 6:
- Different Types of Democracy:
- Aristotle outlines four kinds of democracy, each based on varying levels of participation by different groups of citizens (farmers, the moderately wealthy, free-born citizens, and the poor).
- In the first three forms, laws govern because the citizens are not fully available to rule due to economic constraints, while in the last form, the poor majority rules directly, and laws lose their authority.
- Different Types of Oligarchy:
- Aristotle describes four types of oligarchy, each distinguished by the number of wealthy citizens and the extent of their property.
- As oligarchies become more exclusive, power becomes concentrated in the hands of a few wealthy individuals, eventually resulting in hereditary rule and, in the most extreme form, the rule of the powerful, where individuals govern without regard for the law.
- Importance of Law in Regimes:
- Both democracies and oligarchies can be governed by laws when citizens are not able to rule directly (due to economic constraints or the number of participants).
- However, in the most extreme forms of each regime, laws are overruled, and the multitude or the powerful few rule unchecked, leading to instability and a system akin to monarchy or tyranny.
- Impact of Economic Conditions on Regimes:
- Aristotle emphasizes that economic factors—such as the ability to be at leisure or to manage property—play a significant role in determining how regimes function.
- In wealthier societies where the poor can receive state payments for participation, democracy tends to become more direct and popular.
- Conversely, in oligarchies where wealth is more concentrated, power becomes more exclusive and hereditary, reducing the role of law and increasing the influence of a few powerful families.
This chapter provides a detailed exploration of the different forms of democracy and oligarchy, emphasizing how variations in wealth, leisure, and participation shape the structure and functioning of political regimes. It highlights the importance of laws in maintaining order within these systems, while also illustrating how extreme forms of democracy and oligarchy can devolve into unchecked rule by the many or the few.
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