The iron law of oligarchyThe iron law of oligarchy is a political theory, first developed by the German sociologist Robert Michels in his 1911 book Political Parties. The Power Elite called attention to three prongs of power in the US. Whether or not America has a power elite at the top and a mass society at the bottom, however, it remains in desperate need of the blend of social science and social criticism, which The Power Elite offered. Taking off from Mills’ concept of the power elite, Sandler formulated his own concept of a governing oligarchy. Together, this privileged cabal of capitalists plus power elite now comprises a ruling oligarchy.

Source: Manila Times July 20, 2020 17:50 UTC