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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.

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]]"

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").

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).

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]

[[Category: Political Science]]

[[Category: Political Science]]