In his essay, Dahl investigates exactly who governs the modern state in the country where every adult has the right to vote, but not everyone has access to knowledge, wealth, and social lifts. Dahl states that understanding US power dynamics requires dissecting the decision-making process to see who has the chance to participate and who benefits from the outcomes. In the paper, the researcher points out the three key domains that are especially important for capturing the power struggle: public education, urban development, and the party nominating process. While Dahl does not deny that the US environment is prone to systemic inequalities, the researcher puts forward a hypothesis that, in actuality, the political stratum is homogenous and not as enclosed as it may seem.
A political stratum is defined as a group of individuals who take an active position in the political life of the country. They ensure the reciprocal relationship between the leaders and the followers because their concerns, preferences, and desires inform the decisions of the former. A political stratum is characterized by constant communication, conscientiousness, and refined political knowledge. At first glance, one might think that joining a political stratum is only possible for the elites. Dahl counters this misconception by showing that such communities consist of aristocracies, the middle class, and the working class, all at once.
The first reason as to why the heterogeneity of a political stratum is not only possible but also common is because it does not discriminate against views. Dahl writes that within a stratum, there is no domineering paradigm of political thinking, to which all members need to adhere. Therefore, regardless of one’s political affiliation and stand on relevant issues, he or she can find their place in the community. The political landscape of the United States only confirms this hypothesis made more than 60 years ago: today, the country is highly fragmented and polarized.
The second reason that is worth to be mentioned is the meritocracy inherent to the United States. Meritocracy is the principle behind building social hierarchies that discriminate by a person’s ability and not his or her origins. Dahl explicitly states that many US citizens have the same resources at their disposal but show vastly different outcomes. This discrepancy can be explained by each person’s ability to utilize what they have, exert an effort, and achieve their goals. Therefore, a political stratum may be available to anyone who tries hard enough and uses their resources most efficiently.
Lastly, the author associates the penetrability of a political stratum with the rise of professionalism in the United States. Since the year of the publication, the country has made even more progress in improving its education and providing talented individuals with opportunities to advance in life. Dahl points out two key characteristics of professionals that allow them to find themselves in a political stratum.
Firstly, a professional has more control over their own life: he or she is likely to be less strained for time and finances. Such a person organizes their day how they wish, meaning that they might as well find time for political education. The second characteristic is skillfulness: Dahl is convinced that professionals have more skill to harness political power. They do so through knowledge, which they constantly acquire because they have the motivation to do so. In summation, the penetrability of a political stratum is explained by the diversity of opinion, meritocracy, and high professionalism of its members.
Bibliography
Dahl, Robert. “Who Governs?.” Who Governs? Democracy and Power in an American City (1961): 110-119.