Definitions for ochlocracyɒkˈlɒk rə si
This page provides all possible meanings and translations of the word ochlocracy
Random House Webster's College Dictionary
och•loc•ra•cyɒkˈlɒk rə si(n.)
government by the mob; mob rule.
Origin of ochlocracy:
1475–85; < Gk ochlokratía=óchl(os) mob +-o- -o - +-kratia -cracy
Mob rule; government by the masses; mobocracy.
Origin: Originated 1475-1485, from ochlocratie, from ὀχλοκρατία, from ὄχλος + κράτος.\
Ochlocracy or mob rule is government by mob or a mass of people, or the intimidation of legitimate authorities. As a pejorative for majoritarianism, it is akin to the Latin phrase mobile vulgus meaning "the fickle crowd", from which the English term "mob" was originally derived in the 1680s. Ochlocracy is democracy spoiled by demagoguery, "tyranny of the majority" and the rule of passion over reason, just like oligarchy is aristocracy spoiled by corruption, and tyranny is monarchy spoiled by lack of virtue. Ochlocracy is synonymous in meaning and usage to the modern, informal term "mobocracy," which emerged from a much more recent colloquial etymology.
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