Abstract
The “iron law of oligarchy” is applied to the VFW. Using participant observation and qualitative interviews, membership of the VFW is dichotomized into a leadership oligarchy and a “drinking membership.” Opinions of members of the two groups about the purposes of the organization and about each other are documented. An historical analysis traces the change in organizational goals over time from “promoting nationalism, fraternalism, and special benefits for members” to political advocacy of veterans' rights.
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Fox, E., Arquitt, G.E. The VFW — A case study in the “iron law of oligarchy” and goal displacement. Qual Sociol 4, 198–216 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988377
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988377