Authors:
  • Empires are synonymous with centralized if occasionally schismatized hierarchical power structures in which influence is restricted to an economically privileged class retaining its advantages through usually a judicious use of oppression and skilled manipulation of both the society's information dissemination systems and its lesser as a rule nominally independent power systems. In short, it's all about dominance.

    Iain M. Banks (2008). “The Player Of Games: A Culture Novel”, p.67, Hachette UK