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− | '''Ochlocracy''' ([[Greek]]: οχλοκρατία or okhlokratía; [[Latin]]: ochlocratia) or ''mob rule'' is [[government]] by mob or a mass of people, or the intimidation of [[legitimate]] [[authorities]]. As a pejorative for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majoritarianism majoritarianism], it is akin to the [[Latin]] phrase mobile vulgus [[meaning]] "the fickle crowd", from which the [[English]] term "mob" was originally derived in the 1680s. | + | '''Ochlocracy''' ([[Greek]]: οχλοκρατία or okhlokratía; [[Latin]]: ochlocratia) or ''mob rule'' is [[government]] by mob or a mass of people, or the intimidation of [[legitimate]] [[authorities]]. As a pejorative for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majoritarianism majoritarianism], it is akin to the [[Latin]] phrase mobile vulgus [[meaning]] "the fickle crowd", from which the [[English]] term "mob" was originally derived in the 1680s. |
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− | Ochlocracy ("rule of the general [[populace]]") is [[democracy]] ("rule of the people") spoiled by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demagoguery demagoguery], "[[tyranny]] of the [[majority]]" and the rule of [[passion]] over [[reason]], just like oligocracy ("rule of a few") is [[aristocracy]] ("rule of the best") spoiled by [[corruption]]. Ochlocracy is synonymous in [[meaning]] and usage to the modern, informal term "Mobocracy," which emerged from a much more recent colloquial etymology. | + | Ochlocracy ("rule of the general [[populace]]") is [[democracy]] ("rule of the people") spoiled by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demagoguery demagoguery], "[[tyranny]] of the [[majority]]" and the rule of [[passion]] over [[reason]], just like oligocracy ("rule of a few") is [[aristocracy]] ("rule of the best") spoiled by [[corruption]]. Ochlocracy is synonymous in [[meaning]] and usage to the modern, informal term "Mobocracy," which emerged from a much more recent colloquial etymology. |
| ==Terminology== | | ==Terminology== |
− | The term appears to have been coined by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polybius Polybius] in his [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Histories_(Polybius) Histories] (6.4.6).[2] He uses it to name the 'pathological' version of [[popular]] rule in [[opposition]] to the [[good]] version, which he refers to as [[democracy]]. There are numerous mentions of the [[word]] "ochlos" in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talmud Talmud] (where "ochlos" refers to anything from "mob," "populace" to "armed guard"), as well as in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashi Rashi], a Jewish commentary on the [[Bible]]. The [[word]] is recorded in [[English]] since 1584, derived from the French ochlocratie (1568), which stems from the original [[Greek]] ''okhlokratia'', from ''okhlos'' "mob" and kratos "rule, [[power]], [[strength]]" | + | The term appears to have been coined by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polybius Polybius] in his [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Histories_(Polybius) Histories] (6.4.6).[2] He uses it to name the 'pathological' version of [[popular]] rule in [[opposition]] to the [[good]] version, which he refers to as [[democracy]]. There are numerous mentions of the [[word]] "ochlos" in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talmud Talmud] (where "ochlos" refers to anything from "mob," "populace" to "armed guard"), as well as in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashi Rashi], a Jewish commentary on the [[Bible]]. The [[word]] is recorded in [[English]] since 1584, derived from the French ochlocratie (1568), which stems from the original [[Greek]] ''okhlokratia'', from ''okhlos'' "mob" and kratos "rule, [[power]], [[strength]]" |
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− | In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greece ancient Greek] [[political]] [[thought]] ochlocracy was considered as one of the three "bad" [[forms]] of [[government]] ([[tyranny]], oligarchy and ochlocracy) as [[opposed]] to the three "good" forms of government (monarchy, [[aristocracy]] and [[democracy]]). The distinction between "good" and "bad" was made according to whether the [[government]] form would act in the interest of the whole [[community]] ("good") or special interests ("bad"). | + | In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greece ancient Greek] [[political]] [[thought]] ochlocracy was considered as one of the three "bad" [[forms]] of [[government]] ([[tyranny]], oligarchy and ochlocracy) as [[opposed]] to the three "good" forms of government (monarchy, [[aristocracy]] and [[democracy]]). The distinction between "good" and "bad" was made according to whether the [[government]] form would act in the interest of the whole [[community]] ("good") or special interests ("bad"). |
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| An ''ochlocrat'' is one who is an advocate or partisan of ochlocracy. It can also be used as an adjective (ochlocratic or ochlocratical). | | An ''ochlocrat'' is one who is an advocate or partisan of ochlocracy. It can also be used as an adjective (ochlocratic or ochlocratical). |
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− | The threat of "mob rule" to a [[democracy]] is restrained by ensuring the rule of [[law]] protects [[minorities]] or [[individuals]] against short-term [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demagoguery demagoguery] or [[moral]] panic.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochlocracy] | + | The threat of "mob rule" to a [[democracy]] is restrained by ensuring the rule of [[law]] protects [[minorities]] or [[individuals]] against short-term [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demagoguery demagoguery] or [[moral]] panic.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochlocracy] |
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| [[Category: Political Science]] | | [[Category: Political Science]] |