Dahl, Who Governs?
Democracy and Power
in an American City
Introduced in Berndtson,
“Who Governs Today?”
Who governs?
 Political parties
 Interest groups or individuals
 Social/economic elite
 Mass society in symbiosis with a strong leader
…
Power in New Haven:
 Definition of power: to get someone to do
something they would otherwise not do
 How important are social and economic
inequalities? Is there a ruling elite?
 Is democracy/pluralism real or just a façade?
“In a political system where nearly every adult
may vote…”?
Social groups of high status:
In the past: patricians (old rich families)
Since the late 19th century:
 Social notables (broader category – high
social standing)
 Economic notables (big companies, smaller
companies, bankers, real estate owners,
entrepreneurs)
Are elected politicians
handmaidens of the rich?
Key issue areas:
 Party nominations
 Urban development
 Education
Findings:
 Social notables are not very influential in any area.
 Economic notables are just one of many groups
whose members can sporadically influence decisions
 Little overlap between the two high-status groups
Weaknesses of the economic
notables:
 Few in number (votes)
 Divided
 Participate little in politics
 Hold authoritative views only on business-
related issues
Policies consistent with the
interests of the economic notables?
 General faith in fiscal conservatism
 No consciousness of class conflict
 No public demand for policies detrimental to
them
Power shift in New Haven:
 No ruling elite
 From cumulative to dispersed inequalities
 Genuine pluralism
 Who governs?
Professional politicians have the greatest
influence, but within limits…
Berndtson’s analysis:
 Fundamental division between elitists and
pluralists – processes vs. resources and
effects?
 Machiavelli vs. Hobbes – plurality of values,
concentration of power?
 Empiricism/behavioralism? Case study?
 Recognition of democracy, acceptance of the
status quo?
 Ideological hegemony?
Berndtson’s position:
 Limitations of empiricism – yet attention to
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definitions, taxonomies (3 forms, 4 aspects, 3
spheres, 4 merits, 3 levels of abstraction…)
Pluralism – more interesting, a wider perspective
(analogy: Berlin – foxes vs. hedgehogs)?
Need for intercultural comparison – universal
validity of American/Western theories (focus on
individual interests and rights)?
Need to study authority (legitimate power) – in
order to strengthen the positive aspects of power,
reduce domination?
Society as a mechanical system?