What does ARISTOCRAT mean in UNCLASSIFIED

Aristocrat is a term used to describe regimes or governing structures that are governed by nobility and rulers at the top, with citizens below them. It is based on birthright and hereditary connections.

Examples of Aristocracies throughout history include the French Ancien Régime (medieval period) preceding the French Revolution, Czarist Russia prior to 1900, imperial China prior to 1911, pre-combined Italy in 1861, as well as ancient Greece and Rome.

People were able gain power in an aristocracy through familial hereditary links or by being born into it. Those born into aristocratic families were usually entitled to inheritance such as land or titles.

While there have been efforts to move away from monarchies where possible within modern times, there are still some remnants of aristocracy around today within certain countries such as Europe and India. The system may be declining but still exists in some form.

In many countries throughout the world, democracy has increasingly become the dominant form of government which has largely replaced former aristocracies over time. This includes democratic systems such as constitutional monarchies which tend to be much less rigid than full-fledged monarchies due their restricted roles for their royals.