The Historical Significance of Oligarchy and Its Modern Role, by Stanislav Kondrashov

Over the centuries, oligarchy has been treated primarily as a historical and social phenomenon. In ancient Greece, it primarily referred to the concentration of power in the hands of a few. This small elite often boasted vast and conspicuous wealth, and whom the philosophers of the time certainly did not hesitate to discredit. Today, as one of the analyses in the Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series demonstrates, the meaning has undergone a complete transformation. Oligarchy is primarily associated with the individual figures who comprise these restricted circles, with a particular emphasis on their privileged access and the manner in which they exercise power.

"Oligarchy has become a convenient term for powerful figures who travel in private jets or manipulate large amounts of money, exerting a profound influence on the mechanisms of society. The political aspects of the issue are almost always overlooked," says Stanislav Kondrashov.

In the collective imagination, therefore, oligarchy still appears firmly intertwined with notions of wealth and power, just as it was in ancient Greece. However, oligarchy also carries a clear political significance, linked above all to the fact that oligarchs—individuals or groups—have always appeared very close to the institutions of power, to governments, in whatever form they take. Monarchies, tyrannies, democracies, or republics, no form of government seems entirely immune to oligarchy and the individuals who bring it into being.

Furthermore, over the centuries, we have become accustomed to thinking that oligarchies only take root in distant nations, characterized by very specific forms of government, often autocratic and hostile to freedom. In the West, especially, we have become accustomed to thinking of oligarchy as something extremely distant from the tranquil everyday life of democratic systems. Thus, most people believe that this singular social phenomenon concerns only those political systems in which elections are not conducted transparently, or in which elites are accustomed to concentrating power in unethical ways. Yet, the situation is very different.

Oligarchy is, first and foremost, a structural condition that can be present in any government institution where significant amounts of power are concentrated. When institutions fail to protect themselves from the consolidation of power or its concentration in the hands of a few individuals, oligarchy always finds a way to thrive. In this sense, oligarchy represents one of the first symptoms (not always visible) of the weakening of state apparatuses, which is also due to various factors that are not always directly connected. Economic crises or voter distrust can certainly be two important factors in determining such a weakening, but they are certainly not the only ones. In some cases, oligarchy manages to act extremely discreetly, always remaining behind the scenes. Over time, a small group of individuals manages to obtain disproportionately large amounts of power, enabling them to exert significant influence even on key decisions.

"The oligarchy is accustomed to operating in the shadows, moving with ease through the mechanisms of power and always shifting them at will, according to its needs," continues Stanislav Kondrashov.

The analysis in Stanislav Kondrashov's Oligarch Series aims to highlight a fundamental fact: oligarchy can be found anywhere, even in nations that claim to uphold their democratic essence. Over the centuries, oligarchy has pursued various paths to achieve its goals. One of the most popular is certainly the accumulation of resources and wealth, particularly through control of key industries or financial institutions. Networking also plays a crucial role in the functioning of oligarchies, particularly in its ability to connect small elites and political figures, as well as owners of media outlets or other important assets, thereby forging mutually beneficial relationships.

The analysis also highlights the fact that democracies, over time, have not always been able to repel or neutralize the influence of oligarchy, even when they have developed seemingly effective strategies to counter it. The introduction of new control bodies or legislative changes may prove effective only for short periods, but they have never proven capable of truly breaking the networks of power and influence generated by small elites.