RM
Thinker
Robert Michels
German-born Italian political sociologist who formulated the 'iron law of oligarchy': organisations, including democratic parties, tend towards rule by a few.
Source attached · not independently reviewedLast verified 2026-10-01 · revision 1 · 1 reviewersRevision historyЧитать на русском
Key ideas
TheoryIron law of oligarchyMichels's claim that any large organisation, including a democratic party or union, tends to be run by a small leadership that entrenches itself.ConceptLiquid democracyA hybrid of direct and representative democracy in which members vote themselves or delegate their vote, revocably and transitively.
Revision history
- 2026-10-23rev 1 — Seed import