An oligarchy is a control system of in which a small groups are in charge (rule by a few). It can be believed that any system eventually evolves into an oligarchy (the iron law of oligarchy).
According to this school of thought, 21st Century democracies should be considered as oligarchies because the actual differences between viable political rivals are small, the oligarchic elite impose strict limits on what constitutes an acceptable and respectable political position, and politicians' careers depend heavily on unelected economic and media elites. Thus the popular phrase: there is only one political party, the incumbent party.
Corporate of Foundational oligarchy is a form of power, governmental or operational, where power effectively rests with a small, elite group of inside individuals, sometimes from a small group of educational institutions, or influential economic entities or devices, such as banks, commercial entities that act in complicity with, or at the whim of the oligarchy, often with little or no regard for governmental or constitutionally protected prerogative.
It is difficult to quantify all systems or that contain established oligarchies. Often, the oligarchy will not be openly admitted, but must be perceived through the actions of its sustainers and institutions involved in the outcome.
Examples of current day oligarchies are most governmental and economic entities.
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