La sociologia del partito politico al tempo della crisi dei partiti

Abstract

This article will be looking to the Robert Michels’ Political Parties, a very successful attempt to identify a sociological and political paradox in the party studies: the oligarchic nature of democracy and its organizational forms. By upholding this hypothesis Michels emphasized the need to distinguish between real and ideal democracy, between a minimum and maximum definition of democracy. His work has often been considered in a simplistic way as a contribution to the sociology of political parties or of organization. However, the iron law of oligarchy still informs much of sociological thinking on the topic in tracing the roots of his fundamental thesis not only in the party organization and in the psychology of closest sympathizers but in the inherent contradictions to the very notion of democratic political representation. On the other hand, currently it is outlining a new paradox related to the fact that the will/ need to make the parties more participatory and democratic can provide a real opportunity for change but in a context of the struggle between leaders aimed to accomplish a delegate and irresponsible democracy.