“All constitutions aim at the common good, but those which look only to the rulers' interest are perverted.”Aristotel · Politica · -335 · cartea III, capitolul 6
A regime's form doesn't define it: who actually benefits decides whether it is legitimate or corrupt.
Aristotle classifies governments by their aim: those pursuing the common good are legitimate, those pursuing the rulers' interest are perverted. The same structure can be monarchy or democracy, but the content decides. The mechanism of corruption is the gradual replacement of the common good with an elite's advantage. Example: a democracy where the majority party channels resources only to its loyal voters.
The form of a government can hide its reality. Aristotle teaches us to look past labels: an elected assembly can work like a collective tyranny. The useful test is not the structure, but the flow of benefits. Ask yourself: who actually receives the goods, the protection, the opportunities? If the answer is always the same narrow group, the form is mere decoration. For instance, a democratically elected building council may consistently allocate parking and repairs only to its own stairwell. But how do we spot corruption early, before it becomes visible to everyone?
Why it matters It helps in evaluating any government: ask who actually benefits from decisions, not just what form the regime takes.