What is a Ptochocracy?

There's a reason why the word ptochocracy is rarely used, and its opposite, plutocracy, is quite popular, both as a description and an accusation. The Greek origins, according to Dictionary.com and several other Internet sources, of ptochocracy describe a "government of beggars." Plutocracy, on the other hand, is government of the rich, something that's almost a given in many countries. What rare usage there is of ptochocracy seems to not only indicate a country where the poor have a strong influence in politics, but also a country where the electorate has been reduced to poverty. It's no wonder it's rarely used, because it is likely to be feared by those who achieve power by wealth and influence.

Right now it's a hot topic on Google, with no obvious reason why. Because of its rarity, the sources for this article include blogs to provide background. One possibility the word is being discussed now is the American elections, as the two major parties are stereotypically associated with the rich and the poor. It's also possible that, as in a quote from "Living the Life", it is in reference to Southeast Asia, where populations are frequently terribly poor, and leadership such as the Khmer Rouge sometimes claims a questionable ptochocracy, saying they are also from the poor and governing as one with them. Translations of the word seem to vary according to each society's feelings about poverty, with a German translation indicating reduction to poverty of the electorate, and a Vietnamese translation gives "regime of the poor."

In the U.S., previous waves of immigrants struggled for economic power, but frequently did not immediately claim political power, nor was it given to them. The assumption in America seems to be that wealth indicates competence, and so power is generally given to someone of achievement. This isn't always so, in true populist uprisings the leader usually comes from "the masses" and this is part of his or her qualifications.

In the U.S., consideration of the rights of the poor and minorities has reached a tipping point where being part of a "protected class" can give respect and power in itself. This is becoming a factor in the current presidential election, when participants include a woman and a racial minority candidate. It is also becoming a factor in immigration from Latin America, where many Americans are changing the pattern of the past and ensuring that new immigrants are given power and respect on arrival. Because much of this immigration is economic in nature, this power is going into the hands of "the poor," and could create a partial ptochocracy.

The philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, quoted in "Baptist Blogger", reminds us that the Christian gospel holds the poor, whether economic, in spirit, or in suffering, as the most significant among us. While Charles Darwin's theory of evolution seems to suggest a plutocracy is a more natural state, the New Testament of the Bible may indicate that a true ptochocracy would best reflect humanity. Cynics would say that the mindset of the poor is to recover from their poverty as quickly as possible, stepping on each other in the rush to affluence. In some countries of the world, though, poverty brings communities together in recognition of their interdependence, and communal wisdom is often the result. The Buddhists of Southeast Asia recognize this in their concept which monk Thich Nhat Hanh calls "Interbeing," which means that our greatest wealth is actually each other and our world, not our possessions.

"Baptist Blogger: Kierkegaard on the poor", http://baptistblog.wordpress.com/2007/06/27/kierkegaard-on-the-poor/

"Living the life: Colourful words from the brit", http://followthecross.blogspot.com/2006_04_01_archive.html

"Wordcraft: February 2005", http://wordcraft.infopop.cc/Archives/2005-2-Feb.htm

"Online English School," http://vietenglish.com/td?db=ev&fmt=u&pos=76535

"odge Dictionary - ptochocracy (wholesale pauperization)", http://odge.info/english-german/ptochocracy+(wholesale+pauperization).html

"Ptochocracy", http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ptochocracy