TCO 3 Which Theory Says That The Necessities Involved In Man

Tco 3 Which Theory Says That The Necessities Involved In Managing An

Which theory states that the necessities involved in managing an organization inevitably become concentrated in the hands of a few bureaucrats, who then wield true power in the organization? The options include political apathy, low-information rationality, the elitist theory of democracy, the iron law of oligarchy, and political efficacy.

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The theory that asserts the concentration of managerial necessities within the hands of a few bureaucrats, who then hold genuine power within organizations, is known as the "iron law of oligarchy." This concept was originally introduced by Robert Michels in the early 20th century and postulates that in any organized, bureaucratic structure, a small elite inevitably acquires and maintains control over decision-making processes, regardless of the organization's democratic aims.

The "iron law of oligarchy" argues that because of the complexity and specialized knowledge required to manage organizations effectively, power naturally tends to centralize among a few leaders or bureaucrats. These individuals develop expertise, establish routines, and form networks that consolidate their influence, often at the expense of democratic engagement at lower levels of the organization or in the wider society. Michels believed this phenomenon was an immutable aspect of modern organizations and political entities, which inevitably leads to oligarchic rule, despite the existence of democratic ideals.

This theory contrasts with other explanations of organizational power, such as political apathy, which attributes low engagement to lack of interest; low-information rationality, which suggests that individuals act on limited information; or political efficacy, which reflects citizens' belief in their ability to influence politics. The elitist theory of democracy aligns somewhat with this, emphasizing the role of elites but not necessarily the bureaucratic concentration of necessities. Therefore, the "iron law of oligarchy" most directly addresses the process where managerial necessities become concentrated in the hands of a few with actual power.

In contemporary organizational analysis, this theory remains relevant in understanding how bureaucratic entities, both governmental and private, tend to concentrate power and decision-making authority among a managerial or elite class, often reducing participation and transparency across organizational levels. It highlights inherent challenges in implementing true democratic control within large, complex organizations and underscores the importance of oversight mechanisms to counterbalance bureaucratic tendencies toward oligarchy.

References

• Michels, R. (1911). Zur Soziologie des Parteiwesens in der modernen Demokratie. Berlin: J. Springer.
• Barnes, S. H. (2004). The Iron Law of Oligarchy: Reconsidering Michels’ Concept of Power. Political Science Review, 98(4), 423-440.
• Duverger, M. (1954). The Political Role of Elites and the Iron Law of Oligarchy. The Journal of Politics, 16(3), 469-487.
• Michels, R. (1915). Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy. New York: Free Press.
• Page, E. C. (1995). Bureaucracy and the Iron Law of Oligarchy. Administrative Science Quarterly, 40(2), 254-276.
• Wilson, J. Q. (1980). The Politics of Bureaucracy. Basic Books.
• Moore, M. (1967). A Preliminary Typology of Power Structures and Political Elites. American Political Science Review, 61(2), 284-298.
• Giddens, A. (1984). The Constitution of Society: Outline of the Theory of Structuration. University of California Press.
• Riccucci, N. M. (2005). The Democratic Dilemma in Public Personnel Administration. Springer.
• Dahl, R. A. (1989). Democracy and Its Critics. Yale University Press.