Describe the following terms and use real life examples to support the definition:

- 'aristocracy' (i.e. the rule of the virtuous or the excellent)

- 'meritocracy' (i.e. the rule of the particularly good, or worthy)

- 'oligarchy' (i.e. the rule of the few, typically the wealthiest ones),

Think of the ways in which those tendencies manifest themselves in political, social and economic life of Western democracies, and then use your essay to discuss those that you consider particularly harmful, disturbing, or otherwise important.