👩‍👩‍👦intro to sociology review

Iron Rule of Oligarchy

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025

Definition

The Iron Rule of Oligarchy is a theory that suggests all forms of organization, regardless of how democratic they are at the start, will eventually develop oligarchic tendencies. This means that the leadership or decision-making powers in an organization become concentrated in the hands of a few individuals.

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