What term describes the potential of a majority to dominate power to the detriment of minority rights?

The term "tyranny of the majority" accurately describes a situation where the preferences and decisions of a majority can override and marginalize the rights and interests of minorities. This concept highlights the inherent risk in a system that prioritizes majority rule without sufficient protections for minority groups.

In democracies, it is essential to balance majority power with mechanisms that protect minority rights to ensure that all voices are heard and respected. When a majority's decisions are allowed to go unchecked, they can lead to the oppression or exclusion of minority populations, undermining the principles of equality and justice that are foundational to democratic societies.

Other terms in the question, such as majority rule, typically refer to the process of decision-making in which the majority's choice is favored, but do not inherently convey the negative implications for minority rights. Dictatorship refers to a form of governance where power is concentrated in a single leader or a small group, lacking the democratic element of majority expression. Minority oppression is a consequence that can arise from the tyranny of the majority but does not itself describe the process or mechanism by which this domination occurs. Thus, the term "tyranny of the majority" best encapsulates this phenomenon in the context of political science and discussions about democratic governance.