[Suggestion] Oligarchy Policy

[Kiddian States]

I’m here at the advice of Outer Sparta

Anyways, I’ve noticed that this government type wasn’t in the game, despite being decently common as far as government types go

Definition: The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines an oligarchy as “a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes”. Typically, irl oligarchies are controlled by a group of the ultra-rich who rule over the nation (like ancient Sparta). Trotterdam had an explanation that I rather like, “Oligarchy doesn't necessarily have to be focussed on businesses, even if that's the most common form today and in popular imagination. It refers to any form of society where there is an elite upper crust that can rule the lower classes with impunity (whether that upper crust is large business owners, hereditary nobles, high scorers on meritocratic tests, clan elders, or whatever), but within that upper crust everyone is roughly equal rather than there being a single dictator who can overrule everyone else. Think democracy, but where only 1% of the population are allowed to vote”. Essentially, oligarchies are a council/small group of people according to a certain achievement, lineage, etc. which rule over a nation typically in a dictatorial way.

Possible Stat Changes:
Corruption: Oligarchies tend to be rather corrupt, especially since they are typically made up of the ultra wealth and/or the nobility
Political Freedoms: As stated earlier, an oligarchy is essentially a group dictatorship, so political freedoms (and maybe civil rights) would fall
Wealth Gaps: Oligarchies are very class-based. So, it makes sense for them to greatly increase wealth gaps
Economic Freedom: Maybe this could have less of a decrease, as oligarchies are not always economic

[Frisbeeteria]

Policies belong mostly to the Issue Editors. Moved.

[Luna Amore]

Policies are added based on need. For example: multiple issues ban cars so tracking nations that have banned cars is necessary to giving those nations consistent issues. Thus there’s a “No Cars” policy.

What is the need for an oligarchy policy and how does it fit in with the current issues?

[Kiddian States]

Policies are added based on need. For example: multiple issues ban cars so tracking nations that have banned cars is necessary to giving those nations consistent issues. Thus there’s a “No Cars” policy.

What is the need for an oligarchy policy and how does it fit in with the current issues?

Well, maybe it doesn’t really match most of the current issues, but there are a plethora of issues that can be written if it is added
Also, there aren’t a whole lot of government types currently in the game if I remember correctly, and this will add one of the more prevalent ones (as far as government types go)

[Merconitonitopia]

I think there's something to be said for this. NS assumes that all authoritarian regimes must be autocratic, which implies a strongman/tyrant at the top. But it's entirely possible for an authoritarian regime to have a broader distribution of power within the elite class.
NS presents the political balance of power in terms of @@leader@@ vs. the masses. When your leader's power is challenged, the challenge always comes from the masses. There's no @@leader@@ vs. the elites. The game assumes that the elites are all 100% on board with the leader and there is no factionalism.
Perhaps one way that a nation could arrive at oligarchy is if you concede power to appease a faction of resentful elites.
Aside from that, I know one issue that could already give you the policy, namely 294.5 (privatise the legislature).

[Chan Island]

The problem is that, depending on the lens you use, every single classification of nation could be termed an oligarchy.

[Kiddian States]

The problem is that, depending on the lens you use, every single classification of nation could be termed an oligarchy.

Only if you use the very basic definition and general connotation
What about an anarchy or a referendum-based government?

[Kiddian States]

Also, if the devs felt up to it, they could also introduce a council mechanic, which would allow for multiple leaders
Just a thought

[Fachumonn]

The problem is that, depending on the lens you use, every single classification of nation could be termed an oligarchy.

Only if you use the very basic definition and general connotation
What about an anarchy or a referendum-based government?

I don't really think we need government classifications as policies. There's no use for them.

[Kiddian States]

Only if you use the very basic definition and general connotation
What about an anarchy or a referendum-based government?

I don't really think we need government classifications as policies. There's no use for them.

What should they be, then?

[Trotterdam]

Speaking of which, #144 1/2 and #360 5 introduce strict limitations on voter eligibility, although possibly not to the degree of counting as oligarchy.

[Verdant Haven]

What "policies" reflect, when they show up on the policies tab, is either a binary decision being made or a specific statistical extreme being reached. This is useful, because it gives a way to control which issues are given to each nation. For example, if you have made the decision to ban aircraft, you'll get the "No Aircraft" policy, and should no longer receive issues that talk about planes, airports, air travel, etc. When looking at a new policy, consideration should be given both to what switch is flipped or threshold reached to activate it, and to what purpose it will serve going forward.

For an Oligarchy policy as described in the OP, the general principle of an unelected leadership is already covered by the Autocracy policy which, in game terms, just means you don't have elected leadership. Obviously that's not strictly the real-world definition, but that is the definition provided on the policy banner. Specifying some sub-types of that situation can be done by combining Autocracy with things like Monarchy and Feudalism if you want hereditary nobility, Socialism or Capitalism if you want to imply certain economic influences, and other things like that. The policies tab doesn't really define your government type - it just reflects different aspects of it (you could have Autocratric, Theocratic, Monarchistic, Socialist, Slavers if you want - some nations do!). The question then becomes what additional specific aspect would you propose that Oligarchy covers, which isn't already covered by some other policy, and which is notable enough to be necessary as its own policy check that doesn't conflict with existing ones?

It is possible to add policies - it's just very necessary to thoroughly understand the what and why, because doing so with something very broad means checking every single existing issues (now more than 1500 of them) and figuring out whether any given option now conflicts with the new policy.

[West Barack and East Obama]

I don’t think there should be an ‘oligarchy’ policy. Maybe just a description on the nation page. There isn’t a law that specifically says this oil baron and this slave owner hold enormous power, that’s just how it is.