In Michels’ book, Political Parties, he explains his view on the political theory of elitism. His theory states that all forms of governments, even those that describe themselves as democratic are inherently elitist. From the excerpts “The Power of Leaders” and “The Iron Law of Oligarchy” found in The Great Political Theories by Curtis, I will aim to explain that the ever-present ruling minority of leaders in a society is the most important factor in comprehending the theory of elitism.

In the first selection, “The Power of Leaders,” Michels’ main point is to explain how a leader in a bureaucracy is perceived and how he feels and acts on those sentiments.  The bureaucrat believes himself to have been assimilated into the organization he represents. So, when the organization, or a part of it, is criticized, he will internalize the criticism given. Conversely, if the bureaucrat is himself critiqued, he projects the criticism so that it applies to the entire organization he represents. Because this leader feels that he embodies the organization, he believes he knows what is best for it, and since the group of leaders controls the monetary funds of an organization, he also believes he can provide for it. As an elite figure in society the leader gives speeches. But, his motivation and satisfaction are derived not from the fact that the speeches are good for the people but from the praise he receives. Since these leaders are held in such high esteem, it becomes impossible for them to view themselves as anything but the most important parts of society, thus making all of their actions selfishly motivated. 

In the second excerpt, “The Iron Law of Oligarchy,” Michel gives his overarching opinion on laws from an oligarchy and how elitist the system is. An oligarchy is a group of leaders overseeing a sector of a population. The system of government is inherently oligarchical because there is a minority that is elected to be above everyone else. Even when the minority leaders of a certain group are overthrown by the public, a new minority will always rise up to lead the majority again. Society does this because “history has proven that for a community to be successful it must have distinct, elite leaders.” Even though the minority can never truly represent the majority, there will still always be a representative minority, according to Michel, because the majority is not capable of self-governance. Essentially saying, government is necessary for a functional society.

Because the political world is cyclical, there will always exist an elite, leading party presiding over a submissive majority. Leaders of any movement get caught up into an elite political class, which causes them to become detached from the masses. As a result, no matter how popular or well-received a new movement may appear to be at any time, it will never produce permanent, widespread, or meaningful change. So, these new members of the ruling class might offer some ideas, but their most important duty is to keep the elite class young so that specific class stays in power. Because the political class knows how to maximize its strength and mitigate its weaknesses, it is able to take over a people with conflicting views through the sheer force of its ruling laws.

In the novel “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens, Michels’ idea of oligarchy being necessary for a functional, successful government is proven. When the poor French revolted against the well-established, though not very financially responsible, monarchy supported by elite advisors the country was in shambles because all of the peasants were trying to lead and have a voice. Once another oligarchy of leaders was created, a minority to represent the bloodthirsty majority,  a systematic manifesto was established and executed, and the base needs of the poor, uneducated majority appeared to be quickly and effectively met. The majority’s desire for freedom and equality was their main concern, thus when the monarchs and royal oligarchy were executed, the poor thought that their necessities were met, while the new oligarchy of leaders, like Rousseau, were manipulating these executions so the majority would support the rise of the new elite minority. 

A specific instance in which the rise and necessity of a new oligarchy is seen in the character of Madame Defarge and the group of Jacques. This group of people determines who is executed, where they are executed, and at what time they are executed so the greatest amount of people can be influenced and thus support the new rulers. While this small group is not over the entire country of France, they do run the sewer of Paris, calling all of the shots. They use their techniques of fear to manipulate literally thousands of people to think that all of their needs are being met without anyone ruling over them when it is really this group of no more than 8 who are actually making things happen by delegating their agenda to a savage, base people.

To sum up Michels’ beliefs, he believes that government is inherently elitist because there is always a small group of people ruling over a larger group interpreting what laws would best benefit the group. Leaders are indispensable in any society, and Charles Dickens uses his literary technique to highlight the chaos and cruel bloodshed that follows the upset of a group of leaders. Dickens uses his novel to show that while the most prominent group of elite people, the monarchy and royalty, were destroyed, another minute-by-comparison group of people rose up to rule over the majority for the elite’s agenda. Oligarchy is an iron rule, and each country, city, and institution must have a small group ruling over them otherwise nothing will ever be accomplished, and everything done will be a waste. This philosopher and literary giant both agree that no society can function without a group that is ultimately ruling in their own elite, best interest.
