Practice question · Multiple choice
Dahl concluded that New Haven was pluralist. Why did his critics say the conclusion followed from where he looked rather than from what was there?
Hints
- The critics did not dispute his data.
- A method that observes decisions is blind to non-decisions by construction.
Show the answer
C. Studying only decisions taken cannot detect issues successfully kept off the agenda
Why
Because a method built on observing decisions is blind to non-decisions by construction. If the most effective exercise of power keeps a question from ever arising, then a study of questions that arose will find power dispersed, and will be reporting a property of its own instrument.
Practise Power, Legitimacy and Legality
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More questions on Power, Legitimacy and Legality
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