Russian oligarchies.

            Whether it is possible to name modern Russian "oligarches" oligarches?

«Oligarchia» is political and economic domination of the small closed group of persons. So the state with similar rule is named to «oligarchia» also.

For example, oligarchies were in many policies of the Ancient Greece at the period of it decline. But more this concept likes the device of Carthago, where the largest latifundists has been concentrated both foreign trade, and political authority. The device of the Venetian and Novgorod medieval republics are similar also. Plus - population, as obedient manipulated crowds.

         In general, the device of oligarchies is primitively enough. Ancient Rome was much more complex and more various (so –more firmly) organized and it included, besides old patrician generations clans, also “riders” («aristocrats of a purse»), the active plebeian groups ruled by national tribunes, communities Italic allies.

         As this point of view, Russian "oligarches" obviously do not maintain similar comparison. They are like authorized representatives of authority, such "financial factors", who served the Polish sirs and the European aristocrats.

         The role of "aristocrats" in the Russian scheme is played by large officials (that is, ex-Soviet nomenclature). All of us see, as this or that high-ranking bureaucrat, after reorganization unsuccessfully terminated for him passes to one of the main posts in corporation or bank, which interests in sweat of the person lobbied on "public service". And, at again adjusted political conjuncture, this majestic person comes back in the device and renews lobbyist activity (before the following reorganization).

         Officials (ex Soviet generation) never could adjust scale export of raw material and capitals to the West in situation of the political-economical chaos established in the post-Soviet space. Therefore "oligarches" with their fast reaction, communications and informal channels of decision-making also were useful.

Khodorkovsky wrote also: «we had no real authority in Russia. Officials used us, and then have substituted». Still, "oligarches" are an excellent target for switching discontent of the population.

The well-known Moscow processes above the several Russian billionaires mean, that those have tried to become, at last, original oligarches, having added to capitals political authority (for example, having taken hold of mass-media or having bought up the Duma parties).

Alex Fantalov.

The Soviet nomenclature.