Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 29 views

    11-Classification of States or Government

    Uploaded by

    Aqib Mihmood
    Aristotle classified different forms of government based on three criteria: the number of rulers, whether the government is exercised for the benefit of the rulers or the ruled, and whether the form is good or bad. He identified six forms of government: monarchy, tyranny, aristocracy, oligarchy, polity, and democracy. The document then provides details on each form and explains Aristotle's view that forms of government change in a cyclical pattern as they degenerate from good to bad over time. For example, monarchy can change into tyranny and aristocracy can change into oligarchy. The classification is based on ancient Greek city-states but is also meant to illustrate broader political changes over history.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    11-Classification of States or Government

    Uploaded by

    Aqib Mihmood
    29 views16 pages
    Aristotle classified different forms of government based on three criteria: the number of rulers, whether the government is exercised for the benefit of the rulers or the ruled, and whether the form is good or bad. He identified six forms of government: monarchy, tyranny, aristocracy, oligarchy, polity, and democracy. The document then provides details on each form and explains Aristotle's view that forms of government change in a cyclical pattern as they degenerate from good to bad over time. For example, monarchy can change into tyranny and aristocracy can change into oligarchy. The classification is based on ancient Greek city-states but is also meant to illustrate broader political changes over history.

    Original Description:

    11

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Aristotle classified different forms of government based on three criteria: the number of rulers, whether the government is exercised for the benefit of the rulers or the ruled, and whether the form is good or bad. He identified six forms of government: monarchy, tyranny, aristocracy, oligarchy, polity, and democracy. The document then provides details on each form and explains Aristotle's view that forms of government change in a cyclical pattern as they degenerate from good to bad over time. For example, monarchy can change into tyranny and aristocracy can change into oligarchy. The classification is based on ancient Greek city-states but is also meant to illustrate broader political changes over history.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    29 views16 pages

    11-Classification of States or Government

    Uploaded by

    Aqib Mihmood
    Aristotle classified different forms of government based on three criteria: the number of rulers, whether the government is exercised for the benefit of the rulers or the ruled, and whether the form is good or bad. He identified six forms of government: monarchy, tyranny, aristocracy, oligarchy, polity, and democracy. The document then provides details on each form and explains Aristotle's view that forms of government change in a cyclical pattern as they degenerate from good to bad over time. For example, monarchy can change into tyranny and aristocracy can change into oligarchy. The classification is based on ancient Greek city-states but is also meant to illustrate broader political changes over history.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 16

    By

    Mohammad Zameer Musazai


     According to Aristotle,
     A state is an association which exists for the good of its
    members.
     If its power is exercised for the good of the people, the ruled,
    the State is of a normal or good form.
     But if it is exercised for the benefit of the rulers, it is then a
    bad or perverted State.
     When monarchy becomes perverted, it becomes a tyranny,
    and when a polity is bad, it is what Aristotle calls a democracy,
    which may be translated as a mob-ruler or Mobocracy.
    Numbers of One Few Many
    rulers

    Good Monarchy Aristocracy Polity

    Bad Tyranny Oligarchy Democracy


     Monarchy:
    A government by a king who rules for the good of the whole
    community.
     Tyranny:
    A perverted form of monarchy in which the one ruler uses his
    supreme authority for his own selfish ends or benefits.
     Aristocracy:
    The rule of the few good rulers who exercise supreme authority
    for the well-being of the people.
     Oligarchy:
    The selfish government of the few rich men in their own interests.
     Polity:
    A good form of the rule of the many for the good of all.
     Democracy:
    Aristotle says: The rule of the poor who are many but lawless,
    just as an oligarchy is the rule of the few rich, who are selfish.
     It contains that how one form changes into another.
     First of all, there is a monarchy or kingship, the rule of a good king.
     In course of time, the kings become bad and oppressive tyrants.
     But the tyranny does not last long, for the people overthrow it
    under the leadership of a few good men, who establish an
    aristocracy.
     When the character and aims of the few rulers degenerate
    aristocracy becomes oligarchy.
     Then the citizens establish a constitutional rule of the many, which
    Aristotle called Polity.
     Thus polity degenerates into democracy, the rule of the mob, but
    this lawlessness and confusion too cannot last long, sooner or later,
    one strongman, e.g. a successful military leader assumes supreme
    power and once again re-establishes monarchy or the rule of one.
     Thus the cycle of change or progression come.
     Aristotle’s cycle of change is illustrated by the history of ancient States of his times,
    especially the Greek city-states, they were originally monarchies, which
    degenerated into tyrannies.
     When they degenerated into oligarchies, the citizens overthrow them and
    established polity or constitutional rule, as illustrated by the city-state of Athens.
     History of Rome also illustrated this cycle.
     Modern history also illustrates this cycle of political changes to some extent.
     For example: France was ruled by kings whose government became perverted
    under Louis.
     The revolution of 1789 overthrow French monarchy and established an aristocracy
    which lasted only two years and became a democratic State under the directory.
     Then change to monarchy.
     At last, the French monarchy was overthrown by the constitutional Republic.
     History has nowhere followed the exact pattern of succession or progression, as
    laid down by Aristotle.
     Aristotle classification of states has some merits.
     In the first place, it is so precise and exact that it has fascinated and
    attracted the attention of political writers down to the present day.
     Secondly, he classified the states not only on the basis of their government
    structure but also on that of their ethical or moral spirit.
     He clearly showed that a good or normal state is one which is governed by
    good rulers.
     Thirdly, he analyzed the causes of political change and revolution.
     He found two causes, the deterioration of the character of the rulers and
    the influence of wealth.
     He was the first great political writer who showed that politics is
    conditioned by economics or that wealth influences the political structure
    of the state to a great extent.
     He illustrated his theory of political change or cyclic progression by the
    history of his times.
     In this connection the following objections have been taken to
    it:
    1. Aristotelian classification is unscientific and merely
    quantitative
    2. Aristotle’s classification confuses the state with government
    3. It does not apply to many kinds of modern governments.
     It is urged that Aristotle’s classification is unscientific and artificial because
    it is based not on organic and qualitative distinctions between various
    forms of the state but merely on numerical and quantitative differences.
     The distinction between monarchy, aristocracy and democracy or polity is
    really qualitative and organic because it indicates the spread of political
    consciousness among the people
     Aristotle believed that knowledge is the basis of the state and knowledge
    means the consciousness of the ethical end for which the state exists
     A monarchy is qualitatively different from an aristocracy as well as from a
    polity or democracy
     Burgess said: the distinctive character of a state depends upon the number
    of persons who are inspired with political consciousness and therefore
    participate in its organization and government.
     Garner said: Aristotle did not keep in mind the difference
    between the state and government and he did not classify
    state, but governments
     A classification of governments it is unsound and unscientific
    because it is not based on their fundamental characteristics
     The Greek did not know the difference between the state and
    the government.
     Seeley and Leacock have objected that his classification does not embrace several
    kinds of modern states and governments
     Dr. Leacock raised four objections against his classification
    1. It does not provide any place for constitutional or limited monarchies like that of
    England. Modern constitution is a mixed constitution which combines the
    features of a monarchy and a democracy
    2. Aristotle’s polity or democracy and monarchy open the way to great confusion
    like the England and USA both of them are democracies, but they will be put in
    different categories, for England is a monarchy, while the USA is a republic
    3. This classification fails to take account of the difference between a federal and a
    unitary form of government
    4. It also fails to distinguish the parliamentary from the presidential form of
    government
     Aristotle’s classification is inadequate for modern states.
    Democratic Non-democratic
    Limited/constitution • Kingship, • Rule of
    monarchy without
    party
    religious
    people

    • Unitary Monarch Theocrac


    y y
    • federal

    One Dictators
    Republic • Rule of one party
    party rule hip
    • Ruling own
    in a country
    without wishes
    opposition party without any
    • Presidential legal rule

    • Parliamentary
    you

    You might also like