Robert Michels, Socialism, and Modernity

Robert Michels (1876-1936) was a German political scientist who wrote about the evolution of political parties. His book, "Political Parties," is still a standard reference in political science debates. This new study challenges previous explanations of Michels and reveals his complex biographical and intellectual influences, including his engagement with the German Social Democratic Party and his involvement in radical politics in France and Italy. The study also analyzes Michels' problematic relationship with revolutionary syndicalism and sheds new light on his network of intellectual and political contacts in pre-1914 Europe.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 10 November 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Robert Michels (1876-1936) is a renowned political scientist best known for his influential 1911 book, Political Parties. This work, which remains a standard reference in political science debates, sought to establish an iron law of oligarchy that governs the organizational evolution of democratic political parties. Michels' work was deeply influenced by his engagement with the German Social Democratic Party in the early 1900s, his involvement in radical politics in France and Italy during this period, and his interest in various intellectual and social movements, including feminism, nationalism, racial theory, and the emerging disciplines of sociology and political science.

In a groundbreaking new study, Andrew Bonnell challenges previous interpretations of Michels, presenting a more complex and transnational understanding of his influences. Bonnell sheds new light on Michels' relationship with the German Social Democratic Party and his understanding of his role as an intellectual within a workers' party. He also analyzes Michels' problematic relationship with revolutionary syndicalism in France and Italy.

What sets this study apart is its exploration of Michels' connections with a diverse network of intellectual and political contacts in pre-1914 Europe. This transnational intellectual history provides a fresh perspective on Michels' intellectual journey, illuminating the intellectual worlds in which he moved and offering a new interpretation of his shift from the radical left to Italian fascism.

Michels' work has captivated historians for decades, and this new study adds valuable insights into his life and ideas. It challenges the simplistic narratives that have been propagated in the past and sheds light on the complex and multifaceted nature of his intellectual development.

In conclusion, Robert Michels' 1911 book Political Parties remains a seminal work in political science, and this new study by Andrew Bonnell provides a fresh and insightful perspective on his life and ideas. By challenging previous interpretations and exploring Michels' transnational connections, Bonnell sheds new light on the complex and multifaceted nature of his intellectual development. This study is a valuable contribution to our understanding of political history and the evolution of political parties.

Weight: 590g
Dimension: 241 x 160 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192871848