Neocracy Defined

Neocracy is a term used to describe when people who are new to power and governing begin a position of authority over an area, principality or country. It is seldom used in many parts of the world today, because for the most part there is either democracy. Or at the worst at least stability in the forms of dictators or ruling royal families. However in certain places neocracy still occurs every now and then.

The term itself comes from neo, meaning new, and cracy, meaning aristocracy. The aristocracy were in many countries historically the highest of social classes, and so generally had all the power. Although today aristocracy has taken on something of a different meaning. Today aristocracy is generally thought of as a historically rich family that has had its wealth for a long time. Also it is thought of as describing the social circle of the very rich, as well as the people themselves. In medieval times the aristocracy would have been the people who would have been given titles and would have owned land. And also who would have socialized with the royal family of the time. Thus meaning that they were often powerful in their own right.

An example of neocracy would be when a civil war results in the side that was not in power previously winning the war. And so in a sense becoming the new ruling class, despite having no experience and in some cases little aptitude for the task. The English civil war of the 1600s would be a good example of this. Where the rebellion lead by Oliver Cromwell overthrew the current ruling king. And so creating a neocracy because all of the previous aristocracy, who would have sided with the king, were defeated as well.

These days this obviously doesn't happen that often in most places. The one continent where this does happen more frequently however is Africa. There are often civil wars in some African countries seemingly. And the reason why they are often repeated is because often the neocracy that comes into power is worse then the previous leader. Often the victor in these wars tends to be military minded, and not much of a politician, which is why the countries often only worsen.