Robert Michels, Socialism, and Modernity

Robert Michels (1876-1936) is best known for his 1911 book Political Parties, which is still a standard reference in political science debates. Michels'' work sought to prove an "iron law of oligarchy" that governs the organisational evolution of democratic political parties. The work was closely informed by Michels'' engagement with the German Social Democratic Party in the early 1900s, his invol...