Oligarchy - Political Theory

Political Theory

Further information: Iron law of oligarchy

Robert Michels believed that any political system eventually evolves into an oligarchy. He called this the iron law of oligarchy. According to this school of thought, many modern democracies should be considered as oligarchies. In these systems, actual differences between viable political rivals are small, the oligarchic elite impose strict limits on what constitutes an acceptable and respectable political position, and politicians' careers depend heavily on unelected economic and media elites. Thus the popular phrase: there is only one political party, the incumbent party.

Read more about this topic:  Oligarchy

Famous quotes containing the words political and/or theory:

    Wherever the relevance of speech is at stake, matters become political by definition, for speech is what makes man a political being.
    Hannah Arendt (1906–1975)

    No theory is good unless it permits, not rest, but the greatest work. No theory is good except on condition that one use it to go on beyond.
    André Gide (1869–1951)