This authoritative analysis introduces the key concepts used by contemporary political scientists. Rigorous, concise, and tightly argued, it makes use of everyday and historical examples to illustrate important and challenging conceptual material.   Uses the core political phenomenon of influence as a springboard to explaining politics, government, state, political systems, democracy, and the like. Explores the democratic political system and what has been learned about the conditions that facilitate or undermine democracy. Is updated throughout to treat recent developments in world events and political analysis. Discusses the important differences between democratic and nondemocratic systems.   For anyone interested in learning more about how political systems and governments work.

Modern Political Analysis (Prentice-Hall foundations of modern political science series)

Politics & Social Sciences

Dahl, Robert A.

Politics & Government

Pearson/Education

A Preface to Democratic Theory explores some problems left unsolved by traditional democratic theory, Professor Dahl examines two influential "model" theories—the Madisonian, representing the prevailing American doctrine, and its recurring challenger, the populistic theory—and argues that they no longer explain how modern democracies operate. He then constructs a model more consistent with modern political science, and, in doing so, develops some unique views of popular sovereignty and the American constitutional system. "A Preface to Democratic Theory is well worth the devoted attention of anyone who cares about democracy. For it will have an important influence on both theory about democracy and on actual practice in democracies round the world."—Bernard Barber, Political Science Quarterly "The book is a must for democratic theorists."—J. Roland Pennock, Journal of Politics

A Preface to Democratic Theory

University of Chicago Press

Politics, Economics, and Welfare: Planning and Politico-Economic Systems Resolved Into Basic Processes

Business & Money

Economics

Robert Dahl’s Preface helped launch democratic theory fifty years ago as a new area of study in political science, and it remains the standard introduction to the field. Exploring problems that had been left unsolved by traditional thought on democracy, Dahl here examines two influential models—the Madisonian, which represents prevailing American doctrine, and its recurring challenger, populist theory—arguing that they do not accurately portray how modern democracies operate. He then constructs a model more consistent with how contemporary democracies actually function, and, in doing so, develops some original views of popular sovereignty and the American constitutional system. For this fiftieth-anniversary edition, Dahl has written an extensive new afterword that reevaluates Madisonian theory in light of recent research. And in a new foreword, he reflects back on his influential volume and the ways his views have evolved since he wrote it. For any student or scholar of political science, this new material is an essential update on a gold standard in the evolving field of democratic theory. “A Preface to Democratic Theory is well worth the devoted attention of anyone who cares about democracy.”—Political Science Quarterly

A Preface to Democratic Theory, Expanded Edition

Robert Dahl’s Preface helped launch democratic theory fifty years ago as a new area of study in political science, and it remains the standard introduction to the field. Exploring problems that had been left unsolved by traditional thought on democracy, Dahl here examines two influential models—the Madisonian, which represents prevailing American doctrine, and its recurring challenger, populist theory—arguing that they do not accurately portray how modern democracies operate. He then constructs a model more consistent with how contemporary democracies actually function, and, in doing so, develops some original views of popular sovereignty and the American constitutional system. For this fiftieth-anniversary edition, Dahl has written an extensive new afterword that reevaluates Madisonian theory in light of recent research. And in a new foreword, he reflects back on his influential volume and the ways his views have evolved since he wrote it. For any student or scholar of political science, this new material is an essential update on a gold standard in the evolving field of democratic theory. “A Preface to Democratic Theory is well worth the devoted attention of anyone who cares about democracy.”—Political Science Quarterly

Amidst all the emotional uproar about democracy and the widespread talk of revolution comes this clear call to reason—a mind-stretching book that equips the young and the old suddenly to see an ageless problem of society in a new and exciting way. Everything Dahl says can be applied in a fascinating way to the governing of any human enterprise involving more than one person—whether it is a nation-state, a political party, a business firm, or a university.

Polyarchy: Participation and Opposition

Yale University Press

“Continuing his career-long exploration of modern democracy, Dahl addresses a question that has long vexed students of political theory: the place of independent organizations, associations, or special interest groups within the democratic state.”―The Wilson Quarterly “There is probably no greater expert today on the subject of democratic theory than Dahl….His proposal for an ultimate adoption here of a ‘decentralized socialist economy,’ a system primarily of worker ownership and control of economic production, is daring but rational, reflecting his view that economic inequality seems destined to become the major issue here it historically has been in Europe.”―Library Journal “Dahl reaffirms his commitment to pluralist democracy while attempting to come to terms with some of its defects.”―Laura Greyson, Worldview “Anyone who is interested in these issues and who makes the effort the book requires will come away the better for it. And more. He will receive an explanation for our current difficulties that differs considerably from the explanation for our current difficulties that differs considerably from the explanation offered by the Reagan administration, and a prescription for the future which differs fundamentally from the nostrums emanating from the White House.”―Dennis Carrigan, The (Louisville, Kentucky) Courier-Journal

Dilemmas of Pluralist Democracy: Autonomy vs. Control (Yale Studies in Political Science)

Sociology

In this prize-winning book, one of the most prominent political theorists of our time makes a major statement about what democracy is and why it is important. Robert Dahl examines the most basic assumptions of democratic theory, tests them against the questions raised by its critics, and recasts the theory of democracy into a new and coherent whole. He concludes by discussing the directions in which democracy must move if advanced democratic states are to exist in the future. “When Robert Dahl speaks about democracy, everyone should listen. With Democracy and Its Critics Dahl has produced a work destined to become another classic.”―Lucian W. Pye, American Political Science Review “In this magisterial work [Dahl]… describe[s] what democracy means…; why our own democracy is still deeply flawed; and how we could reform it…. A work of extraordinary intelligence and, what is even rarer, a work of extraordinary wisdom.”―Robert N. Bellah, New York Times Book Review Robert A. Dahl, Sterling Professor of Political Science Emeritus at Yale Universtiy, is also the author of Who Governs?, After the Revolution?, Polyarchy, and Dilemmas of Pluralist Democracy, all available from Yale University Press.

Democracy and Its Critics

In this book, one of the world's most distinguished political scientists discusses the problems, strengths, and weaknesses of democracy as a method of decision making for modern governments. Robert A. Dahl examines the principles on which the authority of democratic government rests, the question of who "the people" should be in the concept of "rule by the people," and the kinds of democracy that fit different situations. In a new chapter Dahl acknowledges the importance of market-oriented economies to democratic institutions but advises newly democratic governments to adopt a system in which unregulated markets are modified by a certain amount of governmental intervention.

After the Revolution?: Authority in a Good Society (Yale Fastback Series)

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Dahl, Robert A.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Dahl, Robert A.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Dahl, Robert A.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Modern Political Analysis (Prentice-Hall foundations of modern political science series)

A Preface to Democratic Theory

Politics, Economics, and Welfare: Planning and Politico-Economic Systems Resolved Into Basic Processes

Politics, Economics, and Welfare: Planning and Politico-Economic Systems Resolved Into Basic Processes

A Preface to Democratic Theory, Expanded Edition

A Preface to Democratic Theory, Expanded Edition

Polyarchy: Participation and Opposition

Dilemmas of Pluralist Democracy: Autonomy vs. Control (Yale Studies in Political Science)

Democracy and Its Critics

After the Revolution?: Authority in a Good Society (Yale Fastback Series)