Dynasty

A dynasty is a family or extended family which retains political power across generations, or more generally, any organization which extends dominance in its field even as its particular members change. See also: family dictatorship.

Political families in democracies

Though in democratic governments rule does not pass automatically by inheritance, political power often accrues to generations of related individuals. Influence, familiarity, tradition and even nepotism may contribute to this phenomenon. See, for example, the list of U.S. political families, which includes the Roosevelts, Kennedys, Bushes, and Adamses.

Related Topics:
Influence - Tradition - Nepotism - List of U.S. political families - Roosevelt - Kennedys - Bushes - Adamses

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Apart from the United States case, political dynasties also occur commonly in other former parts of the British empire, particularly in southern Asia. Note especially:

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• The Nehru-Gandhi family in India
• Inheritance by Khaleda Zia from her late husband Ziaur Rahman; and by Sheikh Hasina from her late father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Bangladesh
• The Zulfikar Ali Bhutto dynasty in Pakistan
• Lee Kuan Yew's family in Singapore
• Aung San Suu Kyi's political inheritance in Burma
• The extended family of Solomon Bandaranaike in Sri Lanka

In Britain itself, the persistance of aristocratic families and their varying titles may serve to disguise some of the on-going influence of several political dynasties (as opposed to the royal dynasties which have provided monarchs of England and of Scotland):

Related Topics:
Britain - Aristocratic

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• the Churchills (the family of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough)
• the Russells (such as John Russell, 1st Earl Russell)
• the Chamberlains (descendants of Joseph Chamberlain)
• the Greys (notably Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey)
• the Pitts (for example: William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham)