““Who Governs?”Who Governs?”

Robert DahlRobert Dahl

Who Governs?Who Governs?

Open, but Unequal System: Who Governs?Open, but Unequal System: Who Governs?

In a political system where virtually everyone can vote, In a political system where virtually everyone can vote, yet there is vast inequalities in knowledge, wealth, yet there is vast inequalities in knowledge, wealth, social position, access to officials, who actually social position, access to officials, who actually governs? (95)governs? (95)

New Haven: Who Governs?New Haven: Who Governs?

New HavenNew Haven: : Cumulative to Non-Cumulative InequalityCumulative to Non-Cumulative Inequality

The city experienced a radical change in last two The city experienced a radical change in last two centuries; changing from oligarchy to pluralism. (96) centuries; changing from oligarchy to pluralism. (96)

In the process, there was a profound change in “the In the process, there was a profound change in “the way political resources are distributed among the way political resources are distributed among the citizens of New Haven.” citizens of New Haven.”

New Haven: Who Governs?New Haven: Who Governs?

Inequality did not disappear. Inequality did not disappear. But there was a shift from But there was a shift from cumulative inequality to cumulative inequality to non-cumulative non-cumulative or or dispersed dispersed inequalityinequality..

Cumulative Inequality: Cumulative Inequality: Those who are better off in oneThose who are better off in one

resource, are more than likely better off in another, resource, are more than likely better off in another, such as social standing, legitimacy…knowledge…such as social standing, legitimacy…knowledge…

New Haven: Who Governs?New Haven: Who Governs?

Though Though New Haven is still unequalNew Haven is still unequal, it is not longer , it is not longer “dominated by one cohesive set of leaders…” That “dominated by one cohesive set of leaders…” That system has given away to one “system has given away to one “dominated by many dominated by many different sets of leadersdifferent sets of leaders…each with different …each with different resources. (96)resources. (96)

It is, in short, a It is, in short, a pluralist pluralist system. system.

New Haven: Who Governs?New Haven: Who Governs?

Pluralist New Haven: Still Not Clear Who Governs (96)Pluralist New Haven: Still Not Clear Who Governs (96)

Neither elites, nor people rule now. Neither elites, nor people rule now. Who rules then? Who rules then? It It is difficult to tell: it is complicated by the intricate is difficult to tell: it is complicated by the intricate relationships between leaders and citizens. (96) relationships between leaders and citizens. (96)

  

Not Clear Who is in ChargeNot Clear Who is in Charge

According to some, leaders are in charge. But from According to some, leaders are in charge. But from another perspective, constituents rule. Leaders are another perspective, constituents rule. Leaders are certainly in a reciprocal relationship with citizens. certainly in a reciprocal relationship with citizens.

Different Political StratumsDifferent Political Stratums

Different Stratums: Political and Apolitical (97)Different Stratums: Political and Apolitical (97)

In every political system, there are those who are In every political system, there are those who are highly active. They are the political stratum. highly active. They are the political stratum.

Comparing Political and ApoliticalComparing Political and Apolitical

For one, politics is highly salient, for the other it is For one, politics is highly salient, for the other it is remote, for one, political choice is calculated and remote, for one, political choice is calculated and informed, for the other it is more impulsive (or, more informed, for the other it is more impulsive (or, more influenced by habit, unexamined loyalties, influenced by habit, unexamined loyalties, emotions…) (98) emotions…) (98)

Different Political StratumsDifferent Political Stratums

Political Stratum is not a Single, Uniform Group (99)Political Stratum is not a Single, Uniform Group (99)

It is not a closed group, no are its members united in It is not a closed group, no are its members united in their orientation and strategies. There are their orientation and strategies. There are cleavages… (99)cleavages… (99)

““A Preface to Democratic Theory” A Preface to Democratic Theory”

People Can Get Themselves Heard (100)People Can Get Themselves Heard (100)

They can get themselves heard by getting officials to They can get themselves heard by getting officials to respond to them. respond to them.

  

Nature of Govt Decision in Pluralist DemocracyNature of Govt Decision in Pluralist Democracy

Decision in Pluralist Democracy is “a majestic march of Decision in Pluralist Democracy is “a majestic march of great majorities united upon certain matters of basic great majorities united upon certain matters of basic policy. It is the steady appeasement of the relatively policy. It is the steady appeasement of the relatively small groups…small groups…

  

It is a decentralized system, and it is not a static It is a decentralized system, and it is not a static system. (100-101)system. (100-101)

The Nature of Power and Roots of QuiescenceThe Nature of Power and Roots of Quiescence

This type of control may happen in absence of conflict, This type of control may happen in absence of conflict, which has been averted. which has been averted.

Theory of Power cannot focus on actually behavior:Theory of Power cannot focus on actually behavior: it it must consider also the way in which “potential” must consider also the way in which “potential” conflicts or debates are avoided, or prevented from conflicts or debates are avoided, or prevented from ever occurring.ever occurring.