ochlocracy, also known as mob rule, is a form of government in which control is exercised by an unruly mob or by a mass of people lacking the necessary skills and knowledge to govern effectively. this term is often used to describe a situation in which a government is controlled by people who are not elected to office, but instead are members of a mob who act impulsively and without regard for the laws and regulations of the state.
historically, ochlocracy has been associated with some of the earliest forms of democracy in ancient greece, particularly in athens, where the people had a direct say in the running of the city-state through the institution of the popular assembly. however, this s…