Linking Organization And Mobilization: Michel's Iron Law of Oligarchy Reconsidered
Author: Dieter Rucht
Abstract
Robert Michels' iron law of oligarchy has rarely been submitted to rigorous empirical investigation. This article specifies the key assumptions of Michels' theory and tests them by the use of two data sets that focus on collective protest and the evolution of organizational features of German new social movement groups. With some significant exceptions, the data supports Michels' theory. Movements tend to become more centralized-bureaucratic and more moderate in their actions over time. There was also a negative correlation between bureaucratization and radicalization. The findings suggest that informal groups are more radical than formal organizations. Also, new social movements that are less formalized and centralized tend to be more radical in their protest actions than "old movements". Within the new social movements themselves, those which are less formalized and centralized tend to be more radical. However, both theoretical reasoning and close inspection of the data lead us to conclude that there is no such thing as an "iron law" at work. Informal groups can be moderate in their activities, and formal groups can tend toward radical action. Also, some of the national environmental organizations investigated became more moderate over time while others did not. Groups do not necessarily became more orderly with age. Organizational features influence but do not determine the forms of action.
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