Oligarchy is a critical facet of democratic erosion, where political and economic power becomes concentrated in the hands of a small, elite group. This phenomenon differs from, but can intertwine with, other threats to democracy such as authoritarianism or populism. In an oligarchic system, a select few individuals or families — often those with immense wealth or longstanding influence — wield disproportionate control over a nation’s governance and resources. This concentration of power can lead to policies that primarily benefit the elite, widening economic disparities and undermining the principles of equal representation and opportunity that are fundamental to democratic societies.
Experts warn that oligarchic forces are increasingly shaping U.S. politics. The impact of oligarchy on democratic institutions can be insidious and far-reaching. It can manifest in various forms, from the outsized influence of corporate lobbying on legislation to the entrenchment of political dynasties. Oligarchic systems often maintain a facade of democratic processes while the levers of power are manipulated behind the scenes. This can result in a gradual erosion of public trust in institutions, a skewing of the political landscape and the suppression of voices advocating for broader societal interests.
For journalists, understanding and exposing oligarchic structures is crucial to maintaining the health of democratic systems. Media professionals play a vital role in illuminating the often opaque networks of power and influence that characterize oligarchies. By investigating and reporting on the concentration of wealth and power, journalists can help citizens comprehend how these dynamics affect their daily lives and the overall functioning of their democracy. In an environment where information can be weaponized and public discourse manipulated, rigorous and fearless journalism becomes an essential counterbalance to oligarchic influence.
We recommend that reporters and editors develop expertise in tracking wealth concentration, mapping power networks and analyzing policy outcomes through the lens of who benefits most. By connecting these dots and presenting clear, factual narratives about oligarchic influences, journalists can raise public awareness and foster informed civic engagement. In a world where oligarchic tendencies can be obscured by complexity or distraction, the role of the press as a vigilant observer and clear communicator becomes more crucial than ever.
Guides & Best Practices
The National Press Foundation
This non-profit 501(c)(3) provides a variety of tools and guides for journalists in covering money and influence.
- “Campaign finance tools for state reporting“ lays out framing and guidance for covering campaign finances, along with resources and tools to aid your investigations.
- “Dark money on the campaign finance beat” provides information on different aspects of campaign finance and ways to investigate dark money.
- “Money and influence on Capitol Hill has guidance on how to approach investigating money and influence on Capitol Hill, from FOIAs to conflicts of interest.
- “Tracking campaign spending“ provides tips and resources to track campaign spending.
- “Tracking political money” has this explainer on what political money-tracking resources are available on OpenSecrets.
- “Following the money at state and local levels” includes educational resources to help you parse out campaign spending on the state level.
Global Investigative Journalism Network
This network is comprised of independent journalism organizations that support the training and sharing of information among journalists in investigative and computer-assisted reporting.
- Investigating elections is a replay webinar that includes in-depth panel discussion on best practices and tools available to investigate political campaigns.
- Investigating candidates guides reporters on how to investigate candidates, from finance histories to hidden assets, along with resources and tools for your most efficient work.
- Elections reporting digging tools has a list of tools to dig into elections, plus strategies to consider for your investigation.
- Investigations to save democracy is a 2023 panel discussion by international investigative journalists on their work, and tools used, to promote democracy.
- Essential resources for the U.S. Election: A field guide for journalists on the frontlines / Campaign Finance lists even more resources and tools you can use to uncover campaign finances in your investigations.
Assistance
Open Secrets tracks money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy. Their mission is to track the flow of money in American politics and provide the data and analysis to strengthen democracy. Open Secrets provides access to their data, which can be localized for regional reporting.
MuckRock helps file, track and share public records requests to keep the government transparent and held accountable.
Sunlight Foundation is a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that uses civic technologies, open data, policy analysis and journalism to make their government and politics more accountable and transparent to all.
Sunlight Search is nonpartisan journalism support organization that equips newsrooms of all sizes to provide their communities with fact-based, transparent investigative journalism that holds power to account.
The Brennan Center for Justice is an independent, nonpartisan law and policy organization that works to reform and defend our country’s systems of democracy and justice. They have done extensive research and reporting on dark money.
Investigative Reporters & Editors is a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of investigative reporting.
The Global Investigative Journalism Network is an international association of nonprofit organizations that support, promote and produce investigative journalism. It provides a vast trove of resources for journalists, including those directly and tangentially related to covering corruption. These include a collection of video resources on investigating organized crime and corruption; a guide to investigating organized crime; and a guide to undercover reporting in countries where there are not good rules around public record transparency, as well as resources for developing more specific skills used in uncovering corruption, including open-source intelligence techniques.
Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project is a not-for-profit investigative reporting platform for a worldwide network of independent media centers and journalists. It operates the Aleph data platform, which brings together a vast archive of current and historic databases, documents, leaks and investigations to allow reporters to connect the dots and unveil corruption. It also provides services to help journalists network trace people, companies and assets.
Bellingcat is an independent investigative collective of researchers, investigators and citizen journalists sharing open source research to expose wrong-doing and hold the powerful to account. The group offers workshops and guides.
ProPublica is a top investigative newsroom focused on exposing abuses of power and betrayals of the public trust by government, business and other institutions. They also provide a data store on a variety of topics, including politics, business, finance and the military.
Additional Resources
Cambridge University Press Perspectives on Politics Journal
Testing theories of American politics: Elites, interest groups, and average citizens by Martin Gilens and Benjamin I. Page
Academic Article
Cambridge University Press Perspectives on Politics Journal
“Oligarchy in the United States?” by Jeffrey A. Winters and Benjamin I. Page
Academic Article
Cambridge University Press Perspectives on Politics Journal
“Oligarchy“ by Jeffrey A. Winters
Book
NYU Press
“Wealth defense and the complicity of liberal democracy“ by Jeffrey A. Winters
Academic Article
Oxfam International
“Multilateralism in an Era of Global Oligarchy: How Extreme Inequality Undermines International Cooperation“ by Jackson Gandour, Rebecca Riddell, Nabil Ahmed
Media Briefing
The Conversation
“The slippery slope of the oligarchy media model“ by Rodney Benson and Victor Pickard
Article
Oxford Academic
“The rise of oligarchs as media owners“ chapter 6 by Václav Štětka from the book Media and Politics in New Democracies: Europe in a Comparative Perspective edited by Jan Zielonka
W. W. Norton & Company
“American Oligarchs: The Kushners, the Trumps, and the Marriage of Money and Power“ by Andrea Berstein
Book
Civic Media
“The age of oligarchy“ featuring Nabil Ahmed and Scott Ellis
Podcast
Fast Company
“The devastating cost of the Big Tech billionaires’ immense wealth“ by Jane Chung
Article