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Measuring the Concentration of Power in Political Systems

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  • Brams, Steven J.

Abstract

The unequal distribution of power among the members of a political system is one of the most pervasive facts of political life. Yet, while many studies have confirmed the fact that a few members exercise disproportionate control over many others in most systems, the configurations of power relations that occur among the few have generally not been subjected to systematic comparative analysis. In a few notable empirical studies, attempts have been made to compare the exercise of power in different issue-areas and across different decisions. Comparative analyses have suffered, however, from the lack of any means to make tractable and compare, except in a qualitative way, schematic representations of power relations either in different political systems or over different issue-areas in the same system. When diagrams of power structures become complex and unwieldy, it is easiest to forget about making precise comparisons about the way power is distributed among decision-makers somehow identified as being influential in the political process.

Suggested Citation

  • Brams, Steven J., 1968. "Measuring the Concentration of Power in Political Systems," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 62(2), pages 461-475, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:cup:apsrev:v:62:y:1968:i:02:p:461-475_20
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    Cited by:

    1. Steven J. Brams & Peter C. Fishburn, 1995. "When is Size a Liability?," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 7(3), pages 301-316, July.
    2. René Brink & Frank Steffen, 2012. "Axiomatizations of a positional power score and measure for hierarchies," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 151(3), pages 757-787, June.
    3. Harvey Kushner & Arnold Urken, 1973. "Measuring power in voting bodies," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 15(1), pages 77-85, June.
    4. René van den Brink & Frank Steffen, 2007. "Positional Power in Hierarchies," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 07-038/1, Tinbergen Institute.
    5. Manus I. Midlarsky, 1974. "Power, Uncertainty, and the Onset of International Violence," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 18(3), pages 395-431, September.
    6. Martin Shubik, 1973. "Game Theory and Political Science," Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers 351, Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics, Yale University.

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