Gerontocracy
Gerontocracy (pronunciation: /ˌdʒɛrənˈtɒkrəsi/; etymology: from the Greek words geron meaning "old man", and kratos meaning "rule") is a form of social structure in which the power is held by a society's oldest members. In a gerontocracy, seniority serves as the basis of social and political authority.
Definition
A Gerontocracy is a social and political structure where the authority is vested in the oldest members of the society. It is a form of oligarchy, where power is in the hands of a few, but is distinct in its criteria for power - age and wisdom.
Etymology
The term Gerontocracy is derived from the Greek words geron (γέρων), meaning "old man" and kratos (κράτος), meaning "rule" or "power".
Related Terms
- Oligarchy: A form of power structure in which power rests with a small number of people.
- Gerontology: The study of the social, cultural, psychological, cognitive, and biological aspects of ageing.
- Geriatrics: A branch of medicine or social science dealing with the health and care of old people.
- Ageism: Stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination against people on the basis of their age.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Gerontocracy
- Wikipedia's article - Gerontocracy
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski