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- The iron law of oligarchy is a political theory first developed by the German-born Italian sociologist Robert Michels in his 1911 book Political Parties. It asserts that rule by an elite, or oligarchy, is inevitable as an "iron law" within any democratic organization as part of the "tactical and technical necessities" of the organization.
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The iron law of oligarchy is a political theory first developed by the German-born Italian sociologist Robert Michels in his 1911 book Political Parties. [1] It asserts that rule by an elite, or oligarchy, is inevitable as an "iron law" within any democratic organization as part of the "tactical and technical necessities" of the organization.
Learn about the sociological thesis that all organizations, including democratic ones, will inevitably be ruled by an elite few. Explore the arguments, criticisms, and applications of Robert Michels' iron law of oligarchy in different contexts and fields.
May 21, 2020 · The greatest theorist of modern oligarchy is Robert Michels (1876–1936). It is he who, in his classic 1911 text On the Sociology of the Party System in Modern Democracy, coined the phrase the “iron law of oligarchy” (Michels, 1962, p. 356). Michels is often paired with Gaetano Mosca (1858–1941) and Vilfredo Pareto (1848–1923), and ...
- Hugo Drochon
- 2020
6 days ago · A theory that progressive social movements inevitably become undemocratic and dominated by a conservative élite. The theory has been applied to trade unions and socialist parties and has been criticized for exaggerating leader control.
May 17, 2018 · The Iron Law of Oligarchy is a sociological theory that claims that all complex social organizations tend to become undemocratic and bureaucratic. It was coined by Robert Michels, a German sociologist who studied the German Social-Democratic Party and became a fascist.
Feb 3, 2024 · Learn about the Iron Law of Oligarchy, a theory that explains the tendency of organizations to become increasingly oligarchic over time. Find out how Robert Michels proposed this theory, what factors contribute to oligarchy, and how to resist and reform it.
The "Iron Law of Oligarchy" in the Athenian Polis ... and Today* 1. Introduction. C. FRED ALFORD University of Maryland. This article shows how Athens in the late fifth and early fourth centuries. mitigated Robert Michels' famous "iron law of oligarchy." It is argued that Athens' success is related to its practice of universal male citizen.
