Ochlocracy: rule by the mob

Advantages:
• rule is not by elites
• rule by the people
• limits the power of a single person
• no oppressive laws
• ability to force others to do the mob’s will
• good leveraging power
• everyone gets a say
• ability to address grievances
• no bureaucracy
• more political unity
• spontaneous
• no money needed to pay government officials
• breeds nationalism
• society of leaders

Examples
• France right before French Revolution
• Rome under Nero after the burning

Questions for Other Groups

Anarchy: Will a group with no organization or ability to organize have any

political power? How would a country with no laws or united force be able to
protect itself? How would such a country negotiate foreign policy?

Aristocracy: Don’t lawful citizens of a country have a right to decide for

themselves what is best for them? What separates nobility from the common people
-- why are they noble, yet others aren’t? How would this type of government
maintain balance of powers and at the same time protect the throne, which is
susceptible to power grabs and intrigue?

Corporatocracy: How would this government maintain an army -- through

competing companies? If so, would they be able to protect the people and at the
same time vie for the premier spot as main defense contractor? Isn’t the will of the
people likely to be ignored?

Gerontocracy: Wouldn’t the people be forever worried about their leader

dying from illnesses related to age? Would this condition be conducive to a stable
and healthy stock market? Wouldn’t this type of government ignore the skill that
younger people have to offer, such as tech-savviness, charisma, and a fresh view of
things?

Judiciocracy: If a country’s judges are embroiled in politics, aren’t their court

decisions likely to be tainted by politics and special interests? Isn’t a court’s job to
interpret a law, not to proclaim one? Who would rule on a case pertaining to a
certain administration’s decisions?

Matriarchy: Is not a mother’s job to be a mother to her children, thus helping

to build society from the bottom up as an integral part of the human family, the
basis of civilized societies? Wouldn’t this type of government undermine the role of
men in society? Would these men then lose their self esteem and turn to destructive
behavior?

Meritocracy: Cannot one gain ability through roles in government? What if

the government has difficulty finding people to fill necessary jobs? What if the
government itself is not a worthy judge of ability?

Oligarchy: How might the people react under such a government? Is there not
a heavy threat of revolution because of frustration? Doesn’t this government limit
themselves by shutting out the ideas of multiple others, and possibly inhibiting their
ability to function better and more efficiently?

Plutocracy: How would this government relate to its own people and be able
to understand its needs? Isn’t there a danger of not focusing on key issues and
misreading the national mood? How would this affect who is taxed and who is not?

Police State: How can you hope to succeed in governing if you don’t even
trust your own people? If you can’t trust the people, can you trust your fellow
politicians? Don’t people have a right to rule themselves responsibly?

Provisional: Isn’t this form of government simply a convenient way to shirk

responsibility? Would a temporary government be stable enough to protect its own
people? Would it be stable enough to ensure that the government doesn’t simply
fall back into anarchy?

Technocracy: Would techies also be skilled in foreign and domestic policy?

Isn’t there a danger that the government could encroach on the privacy of its
citizens? How would the government respond if technology of some kind (for
example, the Internet was down) failed?

Kleptocracy: How does this benefit the nation as a whole? Wouldn’t this type
of government breed distrust and corruption? If the government stole, why wouldn’t
the people?

Geniocracy: When does compassion overcome rule of law? Doesn’t this type
of government discriminate against many people? Can intelligent, compassionate
people win wars? Are intelligent, compassionate people necessary good leaders?

Puppet state: Would a government controlled by outside forces be in touch

with the will of the people? How would an outside force deal with rebellion? How
would it deal with threats from other foreign countries toward the state it was
controlling?