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'''The Iron Triangle''' is an academic concept used to describe the self-serving nature of bureaucracies and the organizations or institutions that interface with and rely on them.
'''The Iron Triangle''' is an academic concept used to describe the self-serving nature of bureaucracies and the organizations or institutions that interface with and rely on them.
The Iron Triangle is often times associated with the [[Military-industrial complex]],<ref>[https://www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/capsule-review/1982-03-01/iron-triangle-politics-defense-contracting The Iron Triangle: The Politics of Defense Contracting]</ref> however, it accurately describes any administrative organization, including those such as the [[Department of Education]].<ref>[https://www.aei.org/research-products/report/turning-the-tides-president-obama-and-education-reform/ Turning the Tides: President Obama and Education Reform]</ref>
==Inter-relations==
The Iron Triangle charts how Congress lays out funding and political support, which in turn favors the bureaucracy; the Bureaucracy lowers regulations and grants special favors to various interest groups who achieve gain because of the perks; the interest groups work to increase electoral support among voters for various bureaucracies, which in turn enables Congress to protect the bureaucracies indefinitely.
In this way, bureaucracy can on its own be self sustaining in its influence by guiding Congress on policy choices and execution; Congress can curry favor with interest groups by offering oversight or friendly legislation; the interest groups in turn provide congressional support via their lobbyists, which in turn guides Congress, through the bureaucracy, on policy choices and execution.
==Association==
It is often times associated with the [[Military-industrial complex]],<ref>[https://www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/capsule-review/1982-03-01/iron-triangle-politics-defense-contracting The Iron Triangle: The Politics of Defense Contracting]</ref> however, it accurately describes any administrative organization, including those such as the [[Department of Education]].<ref>[https://www.aei.org/research-products/report/turning-the-tides-president-obama-and-education-reform/ Turning the Tides: President Obama and Education Reform]</ref>
The Iron Triangle is similar in some ways to Jerry Pournelle's Iron Law of Bureaucracy, which states:
The Iron Triangle is similar in some ways to Jerry Pournelle's Iron Law of Bureaucracy, which states: