Michels, Robert

Michels, Robert

▪ German-Italian sociologist
born Jan. 9, 1876, Cologne
died May 3, 1936, Rome

      German-born Italian political sociologist and economist, noted for his formulation of the “iron law of oligarchy,” which states that political parties and other membership organizations inevitably tend toward oligarchy, authoritarianism, and bureaucracy.

      Born into a wealthy German bourgeois family, Michels became a socialist and spent most of his life teaching in Italy; he held academic positions at the universities of Turin, Basel, and Perugia. In his major work, Zur Soziologie des Parteiwesens in der modernen Demokratie (1911; Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy), he set forth his ideas on the inevitable development of oligarchies, even in organizations committed to democratic ideals, because of such organizational needs as rapid decisionmaking and full-time activity. In his later writings Michels came to view this elitist rule as not only inevitable but also desirable, and he did not oppose the rise of Fascism in Italy. His Corso di sociologia politica and other writings were translated into English as First Lectures in Political Sociology (1949).

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Michels, Robert — (1876 1936) A German sociologist and economist who wrote on a wide range of issues including nationalism, fascism, secularism, power, élites, intellectuals, and social mobility. His is most famous for the study of the leadership of left wing… …   Dictionary of sociology

  • Michels — Michels, Robert …   Dictionary of sociology

  • Robert Michels — (9 January 1876, Cologne, Germany 3 May 1936, Rome, Italy) was a German sociologist who wrote on the political behavior of intellectual elites and contributed to elite theory. He is best known for his book Political Parties , which contains a… …   Wikipedia

  • MICHELS (R.) — MICHELS ROBERT (1876 1936) Il appartient à l’école de sociologie élitiste, qui regroupe également Gaetano Mosca et Vilfredo Pareto. Comme ces derniers, il pense que tous les régimes politiques sont oligarchiques et que la démocratie est le plus… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Robert Michels — (n. 9 de enero de 1876, en Colonia; m. 3 de mayo de 1936, en Roma) fue un sociólogo alemán, especializado en el comportamiento político de las élites intelectuales. Es mejor conocido por su libro Los partidos políticos, que contiene una… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Robert Michels — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Michels. Robert Michels Naissance 9 janvier 1876 Cologne Décès 3 mai 1936 (à 60 ans) Rome Robert Michels est un sociologue italien, d origine Allemande né le 9 janvier …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Michels — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Alexander Michels (1891–1968), deutscher Vizeadmiral Ana Cláudia Michels, (* 1981), brasilianisches Supermodel Gödeke Michels († 1402), Pirat, Likedeeler, Vitalienbruder Gustav Michels (1836–1909),… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Robert Michels (physician) — Robert Michels, M.D., is University Professor of Medicine and of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weill Cornell Medical College] and a Training and Supervising Psychoanalyst at the Columbia University… …   Wikipedia

  • Robert Michel (Künstler) — Robert Michel (* 27. Februar 1897 in Vockenhausen; † 11. Juni 1983 in Titisee Neustadt) war ein deutscher Typograf, Grafiker, Werbegrafiker, Architekt und zu Beginn seiner Karriere Testpilot. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Leben und Werk 2 Ausstellungen …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Robert Michel (Schriftsteller) — Robert Michel (* 24. Februar 1876 in Chaberitz (Chabeřice), Bezirk Kuttenberg, Böhmen; † 12. Februar 1957 in Wien) war ein österreichischer Schriftsteller. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Leben 2 Werke 3 Einzelnachweise …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”