Sunday 25 March 2012

Despotism

From Wikipedia:
"Despotism is a form of government in which a single entity rules with absolute power. That entity may be an individual, as in an autocracy, or it may be a group, as in an oligarchy. The word despotism means to "rule in the fashion of a despot" and does not necessarily require a singular "despot", an individual......Colloquially, despot has been applied pejoratively to a person, particularity a head of state or government, who abuses his power and authority to oppress his people, subjects or subordinates."


In the United Kingdom it is also known as representative democracy.


H/T: Fausty's Libertarian Blog for the idea.

3 comments:

Woodsy42 said...

But WfW we are English! It is not the done thing to speak of such nasty and offensive things as despots. Indeed no! We must use an euphemism as befitting to our tastes and sensibilities. Representative democracy fits that need very well.
Yeah. You are quite right.

TomTom said...

It is however not in any sense "representative" simply an old-fashioned Oligarchy By Election

WitteringsfromWitney said...

W42: thanks for your agreement.

TT: Yup!