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On Political Equality
Robert A. Dahl, one of the world’s most influential and respected political scientists, has spent a lifetime exploring the institutions and practices of democracy in such landmark books as Who Governs?, On Democracy, and How Democratic Is the American Constitution? Here, Dahl looks at the fundamental issue of equality and how and why governments have fallen short of their democratic ideals.
At the center of the book is the question of whether the goal of political equality is so far beyond our human limits that it should be abandoned in favor of more attainable ends, or if there are ways to realistically address and reduce inequities. Though complete equality is unattainable, Dahl argues that strides toward that ideal are both desirable and feasible. He shows the remarkable shift in recent centuries toward democracy and political equality the world over. He explores the growth of democratic institutions, the expansion of citizenship, and the various obstacles that stand in the way of gains in political equality. Dahl also looks at the motives, particularly those of emotion and reason, that play such a crucial role in the struggle for equality.
In conclusion, Dahl assesses the contemporary political landscape in the United States. He looks at the likelihood of political inequality increasing, and poses one scenario in which Americans grow more unequal in their influence over their government. The counter scenario foresees a cultural shift in which citizens, rejecting what Dahl calls “competitive consumerism,” invest time and energy in civic action and work to reduce the inequality that now exists among Americans.
At the center of the book is the question of whether the goal of political equality is so far beyond our human limits that it should be abandoned in favor of more attainable ends, or if there are ways to realistically address and reduce inequities. Though complete equality is unattainable, Dahl argues that strides toward that ideal are both desirable and feasible. He shows the remarkable shift in recent centuries toward democracy and political equality the world over. He explores the growth of democratic institutions, the expansion of citizenship, and the various obstacles that stand in the way of gains in political equality. Dahl also looks at the motives, particularly those of emotion and reason, that play such a crucial role in the struggle for equality.
In conclusion, Dahl assesses the contemporary political landscape in the United States. He looks at the likelihood of political inequality increasing, and poses one scenario in which Americans grow more unequal in their influence over their government. The counter scenario foresees a cultural shift in which citizens, rejecting what Dahl calls “competitive consumerism,” invest time and energy in civic action and work to reduce the inequality that now exists among Americans.
160 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2006
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176 people want to read
About the author
Robert A. Dahl
62 books103 followersRobert A. Dahl was one of the most influential political theorists of the twentieth century, best known for his foundational work on pluralist democracy and the concept of "polyarchy." A Sterling Professor of Political Science at Yale University, Dahl advanced empirical approaches to political science and reshaped understandings of democratic theory through both descriptive and normative lenses. He argued that political power in democracies is distributed among multiple interest groups rather than centralized in a single elite, a view he expounded in seminal works such as A Preface to Democratic Theory (1956) and Who Governs? (1961), the latter based on a case study of New Haven, Connecticut. His concept of polyarchy described modern representative democracies as systems characterized by key institutions like free elections, inclusive suffrage, and civil liberties.
Born in Inwood, Iowa, and raised in Skagway, Alaska, Dahl drew early insights from his experiences among working-class communities. After earning his undergraduate degree from the University of Washington, he completed his Ph.D. at Yale in 1940. He served in World War II as a reconnaissance platoon leader in Europe, earning a Bronze Star. After the war, he returned to Yale, where he taught for four decades and held leadership roles including department chair. Dahl also served as president of the American Political Science Association in 1966–67.
Throughout his career, Dahl explored the conditions and values essential to democratic governance. He articulated five criteria for evaluating democratic processes—effective participation, voting equality, enlightened understanding, control of the agenda, and inclusion. He also identified seven institutional requirements of polyarchy, such as elected officials, free and fair elections, and associational autonomy. In his later work, including Democracy and Its Critics (1989) and On Democracy (1998), he examined democracy’s advantages over other forms of governance, such as fostering political equality and safeguarding personal freedom.
Dahl remained critical of American political structures, particularly the U.S. Constitution, which he saw as undemocratic by contemporary standards. In How Democratic Is the American Constitution? (2001), he critiqued the framers’ limitations, while acknowledging the practical challenges of reform. He continued to address issues of political equality in On Political Equality (2006).
Dahl was the recipient of numerous honors, including two Woodrow Wilson Foundation Book Awards and the inaugural Johan Skytte Prize in Political Science. His legacy lives on in both theory and practice, with the American Political Science Association establishing the Robert A. Dahl Award in his honor. He passed away in 2014, leaving a lasting imprint on the study and practice of democracy.
Born in Inwood, Iowa, and raised in Skagway, Alaska, Dahl drew early insights from his experiences among working-class communities. After earning his undergraduate degree from the University of Washington, he completed his Ph.D. at Yale in 1940. He served in World War II as a reconnaissance platoon leader in Europe, earning a Bronze Star. After the war, he returned to Yale, where he taught for four decades and held leadership roles including department chair. Dahl also served as president of the American Political Science Association in 1966–67.
Throughout his career, Dahl explored the conditions and values essential to democratic governance. He articulated five criteria for evaluating democratic processes—effective participation, voting equality, enlightened understanding, control of the agenda, and inclusion. He also identified seven institutional requirements of polyarchy, such as elected officials, free and fair elections, and associational autonomy. In his later work, including Democracy and Its Critics (1989) and On Democracy (1998), he examined democracy’s advantages over other forms of governance, such as fostering political equality and safeguarding personal freedom.
Dahl remained critical of American political structures, particularly the U.S. Constitution, which he saw as undemocratic by contemporary standards. In How Democratic Is the American Constitution? (2001), he critiqued the framers’ limitations, while acknowledging the practical challenges of reform. He continued to address issues of political equality in On Political Equality (2006).
Dahl was the recipient of numerous honors, including two Woodrow Wilson Foundation Book Awards and the inaugural Johan Skytte Prize in Political Science. His legacy lives on in both theory and practice, with the American Political Science Association establishing the Robert A. Dahl Award in his honor. He passed away in 2014, leaving a lasting imprint on the study and practice of democracy.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 5, 2020
Doktora yeterlik sürecim sağ olsun, Dahl'ın eserlerine ve fikirlerine "tam anlamıyla hâkimim" diyemesem de "aşinayım" dememde sakınca yok diye düşünüyorum. Bu durumun Siyasî Eşitlik Üzerine isimli kısa kitabını özümsememde faydası olduğunu rahatlıkla söyleyebilirim. Zira Dahl, bu kitapta iddialarını uzunca analiz etmek yerine onları sıralayıp kısaca gerekçelendirmeyi tercih etmiş. Ben bu nedenle kitabı biraz "eksik" bulduğumu söyleyebilirim.
Dahl, bu kitapta önceki kitaplarından bazı görüşlerine de yer vererek siyasî eşitliğin içinde bulunduğu muhtemel tehlikelere (ki bir kısmının gerçekleştiğini, gerçekleşmekte olduğunu görmek mümkün) ve bunların sebeplerine yer vermiş. Bunu yaparken daha çok ABD odaklı bir incelemeyi tercih etmiş.
Her ne kadar sonda umut etmeye elverişli bir seçeneğe de yer verse de Dahl'ın siyasi eşitlik açısından çok umutlu bir yaklaşıma sahip olduğu söylenemez. Dahl, özellikle terörizm gerekçesiyle iktidar dengesinin yürütme lehine daha da bozulacağı ve bunun siyasi eşitliği zedeleyeceği iddiasında. Söz konusu iddialarını ve gerekçelerini pandemi ekseninde düşündüğümüzde ise daha fazla umutsuzluğa kapılmak işten bile değil.
Dahl, bu kitapta önceki kitaplarından bazı görüşlerine de yer vererek siyasî eşitliğin içinde bulunduğu muhtemel tehlikelere (ki bir kısmının gerçekleştiğini, gerçekleşmekte olduğunu görmek mümkün) ve bunların sebeplerine yer vermiş. Bunu yaparken daha çok ABD odaklı bir incelemeyi tercih etmiş.
Her ne kadar sonda umut etmeye elverişli bir seçeneğe de yer verse de Dahl'ın siyasi eşitlik açısından çok umutlu bir yaklaşıma sahip olduğu söylenemez. Dahl, özellikle terörizm gerekçesiyle iktidar dengesinin yürütme lehine daha da bozulacağı ve bunun siyasi eşitliği zedeleyeceği iddiasında. Söz konusu iddialarını ve gerekçelerini pandemi ekseninde düşündüğümüzde ise daha fazla umutsuzluğa kapılmak işten bile değil.
January 8, 2017
This little book (just 130 pages with footnotes) from the eminent political scientist Robert Dahl is very appropriate for these discordant times.
By "political equality" he means the right -- and ability -- of each adult citizen to participate in the political process, including the right to have equal access AND say in the formulation of policies.
This is clearly not the case today and, as both Mr. Dahl and others have mused, it may become increasingly unlikely in the future, depending upon what WE do or fail to do.
Dahl identifies, as integral parts of true political equality, that each adult citizen would enjoy:
1) "Equal and effective opportunities for making known to others their views about what the policy should be";
2) Equality in voting;
3) Equal and effective opportunities to learn about relevant alternative policies and their likely consequences;
4) Control of the agenda (i.e., which policies are advanced);
5) Inclusion at all steps of weighing, discussing, and selecting policies; and,
6) Rights fundamental to political equality, including equal weight for their opinions and votes, and to the expression of those opinions.
Clearly, the United States today is, in light of the above, very far from having "political equality" for its citizens. Rather, because of the overwhelming power of big money in determining policy, selecting candidates, and distributing "information," the average citizen comes very close to having ZERO power in determining which policies are considered or passed.
Furthermore, the growing partisan divide, and the determination by the Republican Party to seize and maintain power despite majority sentiment or vote -- including the utilization of gerrymandered districts and voter suppression -- has clearly placed some citizens in a distinctly second class mode.
For those who care about the future of our democratic Republic, I heartily recommend your taking a couple of hours to read this book from one of the finest observers of political processes of our time.
For, if you haven't yet noticed, our Republic is, in fact, running out of time!
By "political equality" he means the right -- and ability -- of each adult citizen to participate in the political process, including the right to have equal access AND say in the formulation of policies.
This is clearly not the case today and, as both Mr. Dahl and others have mused, it may become increasingly unlikely in the future, depending upon what WE do or fail to do.
Dahl identifies, as integral parts of true political equality, that each adult citizen would enjoy:
1) "Equal and effective opportunities for making known to others their views about what the policy should be";
2) Equality in voting;
3) Equal and effective opportunities to learn about relevant alternative policies and their likely consequences;
4) Control of the agenda (i.e., which policies are advanced);
5) Inclusion at all steps of weighing, discussing, and selecting policies; and,
6) Rights fundamental to political equality, including equal weight for their opinions and votes, and to the expression of those opinions.
Clearly, the United States today is, in light of the above, very far from having "political equality" for its citizens. Rather, because of the overwhelming power of big money in determining policy, selecting candidates, and distributing "information," the average citizen comes very close to having ZERO power in determining which policies are considered or passed.
Furthermore, the growing partisan divide, and the determination by the Republican Party to seize and maintain power despite majority sentiment or vote -- including the utilization of gerrymandered districts and voter suppression -- has clearly placed some citizens in a distinctly second class mode.
For those who care about the future of our democratic Republic, I heartily recommend your taking a couple of hours to read this book from one of the finest observers of political processes of our time.
For, if you haven't yet noticed, our Republic is, in fact, running out of time!
May 31, 2020
اندیشمندانی هستند که با یک کتاب یا گفتار یا کلیشه ای ناقص از افکارشان شناخته و معروف میشوند. در این صورت اقبال این که به تمام آثار، افکار وجزئیات زندگیشان پرداخته شود، بسیار کم خواهد بود. اما شکلگیری نظریات و مواضع فکری همواره یک فرایند وابسته به زمان و زمینهی تاریخی است و برای رسیدن به داوری منصفانه نسبت به یک شخص نیاز داریم، دست کم آثار مهم او را بررسی کنیم. اگر رابرت دال (Robert Alan Dahl) را نظریهپردازی میشناسید که با حرارت در آثار شناختهشدهاش از لیبرال دموکراسی دفاع میکند و در نهایت با تحلیلهای رفتارگرایانه و پراگماتیستی خود، آن را فقط در مقام عمل و اجرا نقد میکند. این کتاب کوچک او که به عنوان آخرین اثرش توسط دانشگاه ییل منتشر شده است را باید ببینید.
«دربارهی برابری سیاسی» نشان میدهد که او نه تنها به بیطرفیارزشی سیاست، باوری ندارد؛ بلکه به وجه آرمانی دموکراسی یعنی برابری، توجه دارد. از این رو برابری سیاسی یک ارزش تلقی میشود. این شکاف دائمی میان آرمان و آن چه محقق شده از نظر دال موجب یک شکاکیت سازنده است.
در پایان کتاب دو سناریوی محتمل ارائه میشود که یکی بدبینانه و دیگری امیدوارکننده است. طبق نخستین سناریو تمرکز نیروهای پرقدرت داخلی و بینالمللی و بحرانهای ناخواسته شکاف نابرابریها را افزایش داده به نهادهای دموکراتیک فعلی لطمههای شدیدی خواهد زد و بر مبنای سناریوی دوم یک میل انسانی قوی به رفاه و خوشبختی به چرخشی فرهنگی به سمت برابری سیاسی میدان خواهد داد. کتاب میگوید همه چیز به ما و نسل بعدی بستگی دارد.
«دربارهی برابری سیاسی» نشان میدهد که او نه تنها به بیطرفیارزشی سیاست، باوری ندارد؛ بلکه به وجه آرمانی دموکراسی یعنی برابری، توجه دارد. از این رو برابری سیاسی یک ارزش تلقی میشود. این شکاف دائمی میان آرمان و آن چه محقق شده از نظر دال موجب یک شکاکیت سازنده است.
در پایان کتاب دو سناریوی محتمل ارائه میشود که یکی بدبینانه و دیگری امیدوارکننده است. طبق نخستین سناریو تمرکز نیروهای پرقدرت داخلی و بینالمللی و بحرانهای ناخواسته شکاف نابرابریها را افزایش داده به نهادهای دموکراتیک فعلی لطمههای شدیدی خواهد زد و بر مبنای سناریوی دوم یک میل انسانی قوی به رفاه و خوشبختی به چرخشی فرهنگی به سمت برابری سیاسی میدان خواهد داد. کتاب میگوید همه چیز به ما و نسل بعدی بستگی دارد.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2008
A short, pithy work on why political equality is important, whether it is achievable and the likelihood of it increasing or decreasing in our modern societies. The clear, lucid prose is a staple of Dahl as is the concise jargon free language. The book as a whole is highly readable, but it is far too short to really enable the reader to get anything more than a passing glimpse at what is a vital issue. A worthy introductory look, but lacking any real depth and bite.
October 12, 2016
خیلی جاها سربسته و موهومه اما از لحاظ پرسشهایی که پیش میگذاره و بینشهای گاه به گاهش کتاب خوبیه.
January 14, 2026
This book is very interesting and often profound. The author explains that many in America have become disillusioned with democracy because it doesn’t seem to provide a representative form of government. There are many who feel that there voices are not heard at the highest levels of government, so they embrace alternative political systems like socialism and monarchy. The author gives a pretty hopeful conclusion at the end. Political equality may actually increase this century in spite of all that we see today. This is because of the very discontentment people feel about today’s affairs. If young people can simply become more sociable and civic minded, we may be able to build a more fair society.
November 22, 2020
Breezy and concise, but not entirely convincing
January 18, 2022
Read this for school, pretty basic.
November 3, 2025
Using this book as part the class that I am teaching in justice and conscience. Political equality may be the sine qua nono for productive conversations about justice
Want to read
January 25, 2016دربارهی برابری سیاسی / رابرت آلن دال / تهران: فرهنگ صبا، چاپِ اول 1387
دموکراسی – برابری
مقدمهی مترجم
«جهانگیر معینی علمداری»، در مقدمهای شش صفحهای نوشته است: «رابرت دال»، اندیشمندی بد شانس است. زیرا دربارهی وی تصویری «کلیشهای» وجود داشته که مانعِ درکِ اندیشههای او شده است. تصویری کلیشهای که او را مدافعِ نابرابری و توجیهگرِ نظامِ سرمایهداری معرفی میکند.
[...]
دموکراسی – برابری
مقدمهی مترجم
«جهانگیر معینی علمداری»، در مقدمهای شش صفحهای نوشته است: «رابرت دال»، اندیشمندی بد شانس است. زیرا دربارهی وی تصویری «کلیشهای» وجود داشته که مانعِ درکِ اندیشههای او شده است. تصویری کلیشهای که او را مدافعِ نابرابری و توجیهگرِ نظامِ سرمایهداری معرفی میکند.
[...]
June 29, 2016
Robert Dahl's On Political Equality is a short book about the distance democratic countries are from being truly democratic. Dahl suggests that America, for instance, could grow to be more undemocratic as time goes by or Americans could revise the direction by pushing through more democratic agenda. It seems a little light in actual proposal, but I really enjoyed it nonetheless.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews