ABSTRACT
It will be seen that both the aristocratic and representative principles are reflections of a strong society, while the democratic and autocratic principles come to the fore when society is weakened. Many of the aristocratic values which have been carried down into the modern period are products of feudalism. Throughout history, aristocracies and aristocratic values have, perhaps, been most closely allied with war and the warlike virtues. The principle of monarchy comes to the fore in periods of centralization, while aristocracies thrive during periods of decentralization. Monarchy and aristocracy usually go hand in hand and are the products of natural ability or naked power, gradually becoming institutionalized in the form of hereditary authority and privilege. Throughout historical time, there has been a swinging of the pendulum, as it were, between the forces of aristocracy and decentralization and democracy and centralization.
