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Robert Michels

Encyclopaedia Britannica · 2026

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2026-09-01

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EstablishedMichels (1876–1936) formulated the 'iron law of oligarchy' in Zur Soziologie des Parteiwesens in der modernen Demokratie (1911), and held posts at the universities of Turin, Basel and Perugia.DisputedMichels held that political parties and other membership organisations inevitably tend towards oligarchy, authoritarianism and bureaucracy, because of organisational needs such as rapid decision-making and full-time activity.