BOOK 6 Chapter 1 How to Make Democracies Endure

Chapter 6:

Oligarchy and Its Preservation

I. Introduction: Parallels Between Oligarchy and Democracy (1321a)

Aristotle begins by drawing parallels between the structuring of oligarchies and democracies. The preservation of oligarchies, like democracies, depends on combining different elements, especially considering the oppositional nature of the two regimes.

1. Opposite Elements of Oligarchy and Democracy:
   • Oligarchies, like democracies, should be composed by blending opposite elements to create a balanced and stable regime.
   • The key difference is that where democracies thrive on inclusion, oligarchies focus on restricting participation based on wealth or merit.
2. Types of Oligarchy:
   • Aristotle identifies different types of oligarchies, ranging from moderate to extreme, each with its own needs for stability and preservation.
   • The first and best type of oligarchy is the one most closely aligned with a balanced "regime" (a blend of oligarchic and democratic principles).

II. The First and Best Type of Oligarchy (1321a)

The first and most well-blended oligarchy is the one that incorporates more inclusive elements, making it closest to a constitutional regime, rather than a strict or extreme oligarchy.

1. Balanced Participation:
   • In this type of oligarchy, there is a distinction among citizens based on their economic assessments (wealth).
   • The lesser assessments allow citizens to participate in necessary or lower offices, while the greater assessments permit them to hold more authoritative positions.
2. Open to a Larger Group:
   • Participation in this form of oligarchy is not completely closed off. Anyone meeting the assessment qualifications can participate in the regime.
   • This inclusion of wealthier citizens ensures that a significant portion of the population can engage in governance, creating a balanced oligarchy.
3. Selection of the Best:
   • The regime selects individuals from the "better" part of society (the wealthier and more capable) to be sharers in the governance of the state.
   • This blend of oligarchic rule maintains stability because it incorporates a wider base of citizens while ensuring that governance remains in the hands of the most capable.

III. Tightening the Qualifications in Oligarchies (1321a)

Aristotle suggests that the next level of oligarchy, while similar to the first, tightens the qualifications for citizenship and participation in governance, gradually increasing the exclusivity.

1. Increased Restrictions:
   • As the oligarchy becomes more exclusive, the qualifications for participation become stricter, excluding a greater portion of the population.
   • The regime still maintains stability by selecting from the wealthier and more capable citizens, but fewer individuals are included in governance compared to the first type of oligarchy.
2. The Role of Merit:
   • In more exclusive oligarchies, merit based on wealth and influence becomes the primary criterion for political participation.
   • The regime is thus less democratic but still more stable than more extreme forms of oligarchy.

IV. The Extreme Oligarchy: Tyrannical and Oppressive (1321a)

The final and most extreme form of oligarchy is highly exclusive, oppressive, and requires the greatest defense to ensure its survival. This type corresponds to the most extreme form of democracy, which Aristotle compares to a tyranny.

1. Tyrannical Oligarchy:
   • The most extreme type of oligarchy is highly restrictive and tyrannical, allowing only a very small elite group to participate in governance.
   • This regime is marked by harsh control and extreme measures to maintain its rule, as it faces constant threats from those excluded from power.
2. Need for Greater Defense:
   • Because this oligarchy is highly exclusive and oppressive, it faces more internal threats and requires significant defense mechanisms to maintain its stability.
   • Aristotle compares this to how a diseased body or a poorly crewed ship requires more care and attention to survive compared to a healthy body or a well-functioning ship.
3. Vulnerability to Errors:
   • Just as unhealthy bodies and weak ships cannot withstand even small mistakes, extreme oligarchies are prone to collapse under minor disturbances due to their inherent instability.
   • The more exclusive and extreme the oligarchy, the more fragile it becomes, requiring constant vigilance and defensive measures.

V. Preservation of Oligarchies Through Proper Arrangement (1321a-b)

Aristotle concludes by emphasizing that while democracies rely on large populations for their stability, oligarchies must preserve themselves through proper arrangement and governance.

1. Contrast with Democracy:
   • In democracies, large populations help preserve the regime because the majority rules. This is the antithesis of oligarchy, which is based on rule by the few.
   • In oligarchies, merit (usually in the form of wealth or social status) determines participation, not sheer numbers.
2. Well-Arranged Oligarchies:
   • For an oligarchy to survive, it must be well-arranged, meaning that its institutions and laws must be carefully designed to prevent internal conflict and to manage external threats.
   • A well-organized oligarchy ensures that those in power are competent and that there is enough support from the lower classes to prevent rebellion or unrest.
3. Avoiding Instability:
   • Properly arranged oligarchies avoid the pitfalls of extreme exclusivity and oppression by ensuring that governance is carried out by capable leaders and that the masses are not entirely alienated from power.
   • The key to preserving oligarchies lies in balancing exclusivity with enough inclusion to prevent revolt, while also maintaining a strong defense against internal and external threats.

VI. Summary of Key Concepts in Oligarchic Preservation

Aristotle’s discussion in Chapter 6 highlights how different types of oligarchies, from moderate to extreme, require different methods of preservation. Stability in oligarchy depends on proper balance between inclusion and exclusivity, as well as the strength of the regime's internal and external defenses.

1. Moderate Oligarchies:
   • These are closest to a constitutional regime, blending elements of democracy by allowing a larger portion of the population to participate based on wealth qualifications.
   • They are stable because they balance exclusivity with inclusivity, selecting the best citizens for governance.
2. Tighter Oligarchies:
   • As oligarchies become more exclusive, they require stricter qualifications for participation. While still stable, they are more vulnerable than moderate oligarchies.
3. Extreme Oligarchies:
   • These highly oppressive regimes are prone to instability and require the greatest defense mechanisms to prevent collapse.
   • They are analogous to tyrannical democracies and are fragile due to their exclusivity and harsh control over the population.
4. Preservation Through Proper Arrangement:
   • Oligarchies survive not by sheer numbers but by being well-organized and having strong institutions.
   • A well-arranged oligarchy ensures capable leadership and sufficient support from the lower classes to prevent instability and maintain long-term survival.

VII. Stability and Balance in Oligarchies

Aristotle’s examination of oligarchies in Chapter 6 emphasizes the importance of combining different elements to create a stable regime. While extreme forms of oligarchy are highly vulnerable and require constant defense, more moderate forms that incorporate broader participation from the wealthier classes are more likely to endure. Stability in oligarchies is maintained through proper arrangement, balancing inclusivity with exclusivity, and ensuring competent leadership.

XI. The Concept of Notables (ὀνομαστός) and Their Role in Shaping Different Types of Oligarchy

1. Definition of Notables:
   • In the context of Aristotle’s Politics, notables (ὀνομαστός) refer to the wealthy, influential, or distinguished members of society who play a crucial role in governance.
   • Notables are those with significant social standing, often due to wealth, birth, reputation, or merit, and their involvement in political life is critical for understanding the functioning of oligarchies.
2. Notables as Central to Oligarchy:
   • Oligarchies are defined by rule by the few, and these few are typically drawn from the class of notables.
   • The influence and participation of the notables in governance determine the nature and stability of an oligarchic regime.
3. Role of Notables in Structuring Different Oligarchies:
   • Aristotle categorizes oligarchies based on the degree of inclusion and exclusivity, and notables play a pivotal role in determining the structure of these oligarchies.
   • The different types of oligarchy are shaped by how power is distributed among notables and how they relate to the non-notable classes.

X. The First and Most Moderate Type of Oligarchy: Inclusive Participation of Notables

1. Characteristics of Moderate Oligarchy:
   • In the most moderate form of oligarchy, the notables are those with wealth and merit, but the regime allows a broader base of participation.
   • There is a gradation of assessments, meaning that not all notables are equal in their access to power, but the regime remains relatively open to those who meet certain wealth qualifications.
2. Distribution of Offices Based on Wealth:
   • Lesser assessments: Those who meet lower wealth qualifications can participate in the necessary, lower offices of the regime.
   • Greater assessments: The wealthier notables hold the more authoritative and prestigious offices, ensuring that governance remains in the hands of the most capable.
3. Impact of Inclusive Notables on Stability:
   • This moderate oligarchy blends oligarchic and democratic principles, allowing for greater stability by including a wider portion of the notable class.
   • Notables in this system are more likely to be content with the regime because they retain significant power while avoiding the risks of excluding too many from governance.
4. Balance Between Notables and the Non-Notable Population:
   • The broader inclusion of notables ensures that a large enough portion of the wealthy class participates in governance, reducing the potential for internal conflicts or resentment.
   • The regime remains stable by balancing the interests of the notables with the rest of the population, avoiding extreme exclusion.

XI. The Intermediate Type of Oligarchy: Tighter Restrictions on Participation by Notables

1. Tightened Qualifications for Notables:
   • In this form of oligarchy, the qualifications for participation become stricter, and only wealthier or more distinguished notables are allowed to hold office.
   • The regime still relies on a broader group of notables, but it begins to exclude the lower tiers of the notable class, concentrating power in fewer hands.
2. Stricter Division Among Notables:
   • The gap between the lesser and greater assessments becomes more pronounced. Only those with higher wealth and influence are allowed to take part in the authoritative offices.
   • This tightens the circle of those who can govern, reducing the number of notables who have direct influence over the regime.
3. Potential for Internal Strife Among Notables:
   • While still more inclusive than the most extreme form of oligarchy, this intermediate type can lead to tensions within the class of notables.
   • Those excluded from the higher offices may feel alienated, leading to internal divisions among the wealthy.
4. Impact on Stability:
   • The regime remains relatively stable as it still incorporates a significant portion of the notable class.
   • However, by restricting participation, the oligarchy risks creating resentment among the less wealthy notables, which could destabilize the regime over time.

XII. The Most Extreme Type of Oligarchy: Rule by a Small Elite of Notables

1. Exclusivity of Power in Extreme Oligarchy:
   • In this form, power is concentrated in the hands of a very small group of notables, typically the wealthiest and most powerful individuals.
   • The majority of the population, including many of the notables, are excluded from governance, making this form of oligarchy highly exclusive and oppressive.
2. Notables as a Closed Elite:
   • Only a select few notables, distinguished by extreme wealth or social influence, hold power, leading to an oligarchy that resembles a form of tyranny.
   • The remaining notables, though wealthy, are often excluded from political office and influence.
3. Need for Strong Defense Mechanisms:
   • Because this oligarchy is highly exclusive, it is inherently unstable and requires significant defensive measures to protect itself from internal and external threats.
   • The small ruling class of notables must continuously guard against rebellion from the non-notable population and even from other notables who are excluded from power.
4. Impact on the Broader Notable Class:
   • The excluded notables may become a source of opposition, as they have both the wealth and the influence to challenge the ruling elite.
   • The extreme exclusion of many notables creates a fragile regime, as even minor disruptions can lead to significant instability or collapse.
5. Comparisons to Tyranny:
   • Aristotle compares this form of oligarchy to a tyranny, as it relies on a small ruling class that exercises power over the vast majority of the population, including other notables.
   • The oligarchy’s survival depends on constant vigilance and harsh measures to suppress opposition, both from the non-notable classes and from within the class of notables.

XIII. Preservation of Oligarchy Through the Role of Notables

1. The Importance of Well-Arranged Notables:
   • The key to preserving oligarchy lies in properly arranging the participation of notables in governance.
   • A well-structured oligarchy includes enough notables to maintain stability while ensuring that the most capable and wealthiest individuals hold the most authoritative positions.
2. Avoiding Excessive Exclusivity:
   • Oligarchies that exclude too many notables risk creating internal strife and rebellion, as those excluded from power may seek to challenge the regime.
   • Aristotle suggests that inclusivity within the class of notables is crucial for maintaining stability, as it prevents divisions and ensures broader support for the regime.
3. Balancing Power Among Notables:
   • Successful oligarchies balance the distribution of power among different tiers of notables, ensuring that the regime does not become too concentrated in the hands of a few individuals.
   • By allowing a broader group of notables to participate in governance, the oligarchy can avoid the instability that comes from extreme concentration of power.
4. Merit-Based Governance:
   • Aristotle emphasizes that merit, often determined by wealth and capability, should be the guiding principle for selecting notables to participate in governance.
   • A well-arranged oligarchy allows the most capable notables to govern, ensuring that the regime remains effective and stable.

XIV. Conclusion: The Critical Role of Notables in Shaping and Preserving Oligarchies

1. Notables as the Foundation of Oligarchic Power:
   • In all types of oligarchy, the notables form the foundation of political power. Their wealth, influence, and participation in governance shape the regime’s structure and stability.
2. Varieties of Oligarchies Based on Notables:
   • Moderate Oligarchies: Broad inclusion of notables, with a balance between those with lesser and greater wealth, leads to a more stable and inclusive regime.
   • Intermediate Oligarchies: Tighter restrictions on participation by notables concentrate power but may create tensions within the wealthy class.
   • Extreme Oligarchies: The most exclusive oligarchies, where only a small elite of notables hold power, are highly unstable and prone to collapse.
3. Preservation Through Inclusion and Merit:
   • To preserve an oligarchy, it is essential to include enough notables in governance while ensuring that power is held by those with the most merit.
   • Extreme exclusion leads to instability, while a balanced oligarchy that incorporates broader participation from the notable class is more likely to endure.

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