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68: Robert Michels - The Iron Law of Oligarchy

The Nietzsche Podcast

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The Death of the Socialist Party in Germany

In 1911, he published political parties. It is here that he advanced his theory of oligarchy. He argued that political parties within modern democracies always become effectively oligarchy construction. This happens even in socialistic parties, not just the liberal or conservative royalist parties. The mere fact of having won a majority in parliament would by that token alone make almost any political party cease to be revolutionary at that very moment. That would mean tearing down the state that they now controlled, and that doesn't make any sense.

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