  Fantasy
This week: Edited by: rose_shadow
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"If men were angels, no government would be necessary."
-James Madison, 4th American president |
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So far in our series we've covered two common types of government used in fantasy stories: autocracy and feudalism. Today, I'm going to talk about one of the less common systems used: Oligarchy.
Oligarchy, meaning "rule of the few", is a form of government in which most or all political power rests with a small portion of society (usually the most powerful, whether by wealth, family, military strength, or political influence).
This can also mean that there could be a monarchy or other type of government as a front, but in reality the real power rests with the small group who might have control through, let's say, wealth. For example, in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, the wizarding community is governed by a Ministry of Magic, headed by a Prime Minister. In book 5, the Order of the Phoenix, Harry sees the Prime Minister taking money from one of the richest and oldest "pureblood" families--the Malfoys. Is it any wonder then that the Minister acts as he does during that book when the Malfoys are lining his pockets?
But oligarchs are not always wealthy, simply privileged in some way. Perhaps your oligarchs are....
 Magic users, who use their abilities to control and govern those without.
A powerful religious sect
A family who have held control for so long that no one remembers what life was like before them.
A council or other governing body. For example, in my short novel "Invalid Item" , my heroine's village is governed by a Council of Elders who arrange marriages, keep watch over business, and generally any activity occurring in the small town life.
Oligarchies aren't always founded, but sometimes evolve from shifting alliances between warring groups of people, or a gradual accumulation of economic power. They can also be vehicles of governmental transformation, by using their power to insist that autocrats (monarchs, dictators or other central figure) share power. One famous example of this in our Earth's history is in 1215 when English nobles banded together and forced a reluctant King John of England to sign the Magna Carta. Another famous example is the historical family of the Medicis of Florence, Italy. |
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I didn't have time this week to reply to all the your kind comments because I'm getting ready for vacation, but thanks, as always, for reading!
From: Strange Wulf  
I kind've already knew about the feudal system from my history classes (wow! public education is actually good for something!), but the mutual obligation thing is something I kinda missed. It was there, of course, but I'm not sure I realized it. And I'm not sure if they taught it to me.
All I remember of my history classes is how evil European lords abused their powers over the peasant class... and how corporations here in America did similar things to their workers. =P
I didn't think Western Civ was supposed to be about the evils of the west...
From: billwilcox
Erin,
Listen -- strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony. You can't expect to wield supreme executive power just 'cause some watery tart threw a sword at you!
From: Raine
Great newsletter, Erin! There are differences between Vassals and Serfs, though. Vassals were knights and freemen in service to the lord. Serfs were slaves, bound to the land, who had no rights. The feal oaths and who owed what to who were always the confusing part and often led to major conflicts.
From: SilverGryphon
*grins* You know, I just wrote a paper on this very form of government not two days ago. Very good summarization of the workings.
The government sections are really informative and a great help. Many people forget just how important government is to their character's lives and their plot. A thousand thank you's!!!
From: submariner
I am glad that my question of government extended beyond just myself. Thank you for taking the time and going over different types of goverments. |
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Fantasy: May 31, 2006 Issue [#1061]
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