The Rise of Oligarchies: From Aristotle to Modern Deception

Oligarchies—rule by the few—don’t spring up in a vacuum. They emerge through a slow, often deceptive consolidation of power, cloaked in promises of justice or progress. To unpack their formation, we’ll turn to Aristotle, the ancient Greek philosopher, for a foundational definition. Then, we’ll examine why figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), despite their anti-elite rhetoric, might be more likely to join an oligarchy than dismantle it. Finally, the Bible’s portrayal of Lucifer as a master deceiver offers a chilling parallel: we mortals assume we’d spot his tricks, yet history suggests we’re all too easily fooled.

Aristotle’s Oligarchy: Power for the Few

Aristotle, in his seminal work Politics (circa 350 BCE), defines oligarchy as a system where “the rich and well-born” govern, prioritizing their own interests over the common good. In Book IV, he contrasts it with democracy, noting that oligarchies arise when wealth or status concentrates in the hands of a select group. For Aristotle, it’s not just about numbers—oligarchy is a distortion of justice, where rulers “seek their own advantage” rather than the welfare of all. He saw it in Greek city-states like Sparta, where a privileged elite wielded power through inherited wealth and military clout.

The formation, Aristotle suggests, follows a pattern: economic inequality widens, the wealthy gain influence over institutions (courts, assemblies, armies), and they entrench their dominance by limiting access to power. It’s a self-reinforcing cycle—those with resources shape the rules to keep others out. But oligarchies don’t always look oppressive; they often justify themselves with claims of merit or stability, masking their self-interest as virtue.

The Mechanics of Oligarchic Rise

Building on Aristotle’s framework, oligarchies form through three stages:

1. Concentration of Resources: Wealth, status, or influence pools among a small group—think landed aristocrats in Aristotle’s time or billionaires today.
2. Control of Institutions: The elite secure key levers of power—laws, elections, media—tilting them in their favor.
3. Legitimation: They sell their rule as inevitable or beneficial, whether through divine right in antiquity or “economic growth” in modernity.

This process doesn’t require cackling villains. It thrives on human nature: ambition, fear, and the desire for order. And it’s often those who decry the system loudest who end up reinforcing it.

Sanders and AOC: Rebels or Future Oligarchs?

Bernie Sanders and AOC position themselves as scourges of the elite. Sanders, with his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour in 2024, rails against the “1 percent,” while AOC’s viral speeches—like her call in Las Vegas for a fiercer Democratic Party—paint her as a working-class champion. Yet, their paths suggest they’re more likely to join an oligarchy than topple it.

Aristotle warned that oligarchies don’t just come from the rich—they can emerge from any group that consolidates power. Sanders, a senator since 2007, has spent decades within the political class, a modern aristocracy of influence. His policies, like Medicare for All, demand vast government expansion—centralizing authority in ways that could empower a bureaucratic elite, himself included. AOC, meanwhile, has leapt from bartender to congressional darling in six years, her star power fueled by party machinery and media amplification. Her rumored 2028 presidential bid (note the “AOC 2028” buzz among supporters) signals ambition within the system, not against it.

Both rely on the Democratic Party, a nexus of wealthy donors and corporate ties—hardly a bastion of anti-oligarchic purity. Their rhetoric may sting billionaires, but their careers thrive on the very institutions Aristotle saw as oligarchic breeding grounds. Sanders’ longevity and AOC’s ascent mirror how elites legitimize their rule: by claiming to speak for the downtrodden while securing their own perch atop the heap.

Lucifer’s Deception: A Biblical Caution

The Bible casts Lucifer as the ultimate trickster, a being whose power lies in disguise. In Ezekiel 28:12-15, he’s a dazzling figure, “perfect in beauty,” until pride corrupts him. In 2 Corinthians 11:14, Paul writes, “Satan masquerades as an angel of light.” His deception isn’t obvious—it’s seductive, weaving lies into truths we want to believe. He doesn’t storm in; he whispers, convincing us that power is righteousness.

We mortals, though, are cocky. We think we’d see through Lucifer’s ploys—surely, we’d catch the glint of malice in his eye. But the Bible warns we’re vulnerable precisely because we trust too easily. Sanders and AOC might not be devils, but their appeal could be Luciferian: promising salvation while entrenching a new elite. Like Aristotle’s oligarchs, they cloak self-interest in virtue, and we cheer, blind to the strings.

The Mortal Delusion

Oligarchies don’t shout their arrival—they slink in, draped in ideals we embrace. Aristotle saw them born of wealth and privilege; today, they might wear the guise of populism. So, are Sanders and AOC fighting oligarchy or feeding it? The answer might lie not in their words, but in the power they wield—and who it ultimately serves. As mortals, we’d do well to question not just the devil we know, but the angels we adore..