Thomas R. Dye

The irony of democracy is that government "by the people" will not survive if the elites fail to govern wisely. Citing the repeated findings of V.O. Key, [2] the competence of political activists is what keeps democracy alive.

This 1978 work of social science research supports the view that we have always had "elites", even (and especially) in societies which praise democracy and the values of pluralism. Develops the themes clearly shown by V.O. Key.

The authors scour the social sciences for show more data and proofs showing that support their view that "Democracy is very fragile." [369] Of the 200 nations in the world, no more than two dozen are democracies, and 4/5 of the population of the globe live under authoritarian regimes. Individual liberty is not maintained easily or broadly.

Still, it is not fatal to be governed by elites, and in fact we find no other more successful means of government.
The authors conclude that the biggest danger to individual liberty is the existence of concentrations of wealth and power in large technologically advanced institutions. [372]

After thoroughly detailing the history and scope of the problem, the authors ask "What can a student do?" First, lower expectations. Second, learn about the world, reexamining reality. Third, master the technology. Finally, "it is essential that you become familiar with the meaning of individual freedom and dignity throughout the ages". This is the quest. show less

Who's Running America by Thomas R. Dye
A C-Span addict these days Dye's thesis that power is concentrated in the US in a few institutions. In Who's Running America, 4th edition 1986, the big companies are really changing.
(It was shocking to me as a retired academic depending on TIAA how they were once major investors in General Motors, IBM, Gulf Oil, ITT, General Electric once proud US institutions now less powerful, with GM actually coming to Washington for a bailout). The institutions that show more are stronger than ever which according to Dye provide "consensus building among elites" p. 272.
include the Council on Foreign Relations, Business Roundtable, and Brookings Institute.

Dye gives excellent comparative tables showing changes in rankings with these big institutions and thumbnail biographies of many of these influential people.

Dye is still active.

"What and who counts in making national policy, May 24, 2006
By
Frank T. Manheim (Fairfax VA) - See all my reviews Thomas R. Dye is president of the Lincoln Center for Public Service, a nonprofit and nonpartisan study center at Delray Beach Florida. He is a prolific and well-known author of books on American government and policy. I always go to back covers when browsing paperbacks, because these usually reveal in a nutshell what the book is about. On "Top Down"'s back cover we learn that many of Dye's previous books on politics in America have gone through a large number of editions, e.g. "The Irony of Democracy" (10th ed.) and "Politics in States and Communities" (9th ed), and "Understanding Public Policy" (9th ed). Clearly, Dye's books are established university texts for political science and policy studies.

Dye tabulated the number of these most influential people. There were then only about 7,000.
Now the primary change would be the addition of minorities and women to the list. show less

This is one of the best text books I have ever read on public policy.