Less Structure, More Culture: A Multi-case Analysis of Resistance to Oligarchy in Collectivist-Democratic Organizations

• In Event: 474 - Section on Collective Behavior and Social Movements Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 22. Prefigurative Politics

Abstract

This qualitative study attempts to address the difficulty of ascertaining whether collectivist-democratic organizations have developed oligarchic concentrations of power by applying a conceptual model of oligarchy to an analysis of 12 German social movement groups using 2 forms of C-D. Drawing on 62 semi-structured interviews, it was found that 3 of the more structured, "organic" style C-D groups became oligarchic, while none of the groups using the less structured, "mechanistic" style did. The analysis suggests that a more fluid division of labor, and the avoidance of paid staff and professionalization (in short, less structure), combined with the intentional development of an organizational culture that fosters norms of power sharing and directly challenging any use of illegitimate influence all work to prevent oligarchy. Contrary to common wisdom, it was also found that larger groups were not more prone to oligarchy.

Author

• Darcy K. Leach, Bradley University