PoliticsAugust 22, 2026

oligarchs

OL-ih-garks

Definition

Wealthy, influential individuals who possess significant economic and political power within a society.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek word 'oligarkhia,' which combines 'oligos' (meaning 'few') and 'arkhein' (meaning 'to rule'), describing a system where power rests with a small number of people.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe the wealthy owners of the major broadcast networks, noting that these figures have not consistently challenged the government's attempts to control media content.

ABC/Disney goes to court to stop FCC early review of broadcast licenses

Read the full article ↗

World Socialist Web Site

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