These essays by the brilliant historian of political science Juan Linz comprise a remarkable intellectual review of the life and work of Robert Michels, his major book Political Parties, and the dimensions of democracy as a functioning system. Linz places Michels in a broad European context, opening a window on what has become a European vision of the conduct of political research a in contrast to a strictly national image. The volume includes a complete bibliography of the writings of Linz prepared by his student and colleague, Chehabi.