Iron law of oligarchy

The theory that organizations tend to concentrate decision-making power in a small leadership group, even when founded on democratic principles.

Robert Michels: A German-Italian sociologist whose 1911 study of political parties formulated the iron law of oligarchy. His analysis of the German Social Democratic Party supplied the theory’s central case.
Political sociology: The study of how social structures, groups, and institutions shape political power and action. The iron law emerged from a sociological analysis of political organizations.
Democratic theory: The study of democracy’s principles, institutions, and standards of legitimate rule. Its ideals of equal participation and accountability stand against the law’s pessimistic tendency.
Trade union: An organization of workers formed to represent their shared interests in employment and labor relations. Unions face the same tension between professional leadership and member control.
Bureaucracy: An administrative system organized through offices, rules, hierarchy, and specialized roles. Specialized administration gives leaders expertise and control that ordinary members lack.
German Social Democratic Party: A German socialist political party that became a major mass organization before World War I. Michels studied its leadership and membership to test democratic organization in practice.
Participatory democracy: A model of democracy emphasizing direct involvement by citizens in political decisions. It seeks to reduce the distance between decision-makers and the people Michels saw losing control.
Democratic centralism: An organizational principle combining internal discussion with binding discipline after decisions are made. Its formal commitment to internal democracy highlights the gap between rules and actual power.
Political party: An organized group that seeks political power by contesting elections or influencing government. Michels examined how party organization can produce leadership dominance.
Max Weber: A German sociologist who analyzed authority, bureaucracy, and the organization of modern society. Weber’s account of bureaucracy helps explain the administrative forces Michels identified.

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