Leadership Influence on the Nature of the Political Party: The Case of the W.A. Branch of the A.L.P. in the 'Thirties

Abstract

From Michels in 1915, through Duverger in 1951, to the present, the academic analysis of the leadership of political parties has been dominated by a single theory. Michels' 'iron law of oligarchy' expressed his conviction that even the leaders of an ostensibly democratic political party have power far beyond what a casual reading of the party's rules would suggest;2 Duverger similarly concluded that 'the leadership of political parties ... is democratic in appearance and oligarchic in reality'.3 The influence of the party membership is not totally discounted or denied but it is seen as basically a negative influence; the leaders are restricted only in the sense that sculptors are restricted by the nature of the material with which they work. That is, the leadership decides what course to pursue but the range of choices is not completely unlimited.4