Oligarchy, Democracy and Plebeianism: For a Political Conceptualization

Oligarchy was a classical theme in ancient and Renaissance analyses of power as one of the three forms of ‘rule’ or ‘government’. It was then almost forgotten in relevant discussions but has recently resurfaced in several approaches. This paper will argue that, despite the prominence of concentrated economic power, we have to see oligarchy in terms of political power. Having established this perspective vis-à-vis the current literature, the paper further elaborates on the differentiation of the political dimension, introduces a typology of forms of rule in modernity (under liberalism) and postmodernity (authoritarian collectivism or, improperly, ‘real socialism’), with their dynamic elements and, finally, takes up the problem of political plebeianism and the changes we witness in the contemporary world. This line of reasoning also implies that a radically democratic Left could leave behind the failed attempts of the twentieth century, insofar as it is anti-oligarchic, thus rethinking the essential elements of its traditional organizational strategy. A conclusion sums up the argument and assesses its political relevance.