Knowra Political inequality Political inequality Political inequality is unequal influence over collective decisions among individuals or groups. It can arise from differences in resources, access, representation, or formal rights.
Political participation : Activities through which people seek to influence government or public affairs. Participation is one route through which unequal influence is expressed and reproduced.
Power (social and political) : The capacity to shape actions, outcomes, or the distribution of resources. Political inequality is a patterned disparity in the power to shape collective decisions.
The Power Elite : C. Wright Mills's account of concentrated power among leaders of major institutions in the United States. Mills describes political influence as concentrated among interconnected economic, political, and military leaders.
Political equality : The principle that people should have equal standing and influence in political life. It states the normative ideal against which unequal political influence is often judged.
Political finance : The raising and spending of money to influence elections, parties, and public policy. Unequal funding can give wealthy donors and organizations greater access to decision-makers.
Economic inequality : Unequal distribution of income, wealth, or economic opportunity among people or groups. Material disparities can supply the time, expertise, and money used to gain political influence.
Who Governs? : Robert A. Dahl's study of political power and decision-making in New Haven, published in 1961. Dahl's pluralist case challenges the claim that a single elite controls every policy domain.
Pluralism (political theory) : The theory that political power is distributed among multiple competing groups and institutions. Pluralism disputes the idea that political influence is necessarily concentrated in one dominant group.
Lobbying : Efforts to influence public officials on legislation, regulation, or government decisions. Lobbying can convert organized resources into direct access to policymakers.
Social stratification : The structured ranking of groups in a society by status, resources, or power. Political influence often follows durable social hierarchies rather than individual preferences alone.
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