Oligarchy = a small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution; a country governed by an oligarchy; government by an oligarchy . "If one were to closely examine the birth of every iron-fisted oligarchy throughout history, they would find a cyclical pattern of centralization;" ....... "the removal of checks and balances, the removal of legitimate public involvement in the political process, a dependent and infantilized citizenry, and the rise of