oligoi

Oligoi is a Greek term meaning “the few.” In classical Greek, the definite form hoi oligoi refers to a small, ruling minority contrasted with the demos, or the people. The word serves both descriptive and evaluative functions in political discourse, signaling a form of governance where power rests with a limited group rather than with the whole citizen body.

In political theory, oligoi underpin the concept of oligarchy—the rule of the few. Ancient writers often describe oligarchy as a system in which wealth, birth, or social status concentrates political authority in a minority. The composition of the oligoi varied across city-states and periods: sometimes aristocratic families, other times wealthy merchants, military leaders, or coalitions that control offices, land, or wealth. Institutions and norms may reinforce their dominance, shaping laws and practices to preserve exclusive access to power.

Historically, the term appears in discussions of Greek polities and in literary texts that critique or defend different forms of government. In Aristotle’s Politics, for example, oligarchy is defined by the criterion that wealth determines political influence, distinguishing it from democracy, where power rests with the many. The label hoi oligoi could carry pejorative or analytical overtones, depending on the speaker's stance toward the ruling minority.

In modern usage, oligoi is primarily a scholarly or historical term. English-language writing normally uses oligarchy or oligarchs, but oligoi remains a useful historical descriptor when discussing ancient Greek politics and the linguistic heritage of terms for power, elites, and governance. See also oligarchy, democracy, plutocracy, aristocracy.