Who's Running America?

Thomas R. Dye is Emeritus Professor of Political Science at Florida State University. He was formerly McKenzie Professor of Government. He received his BS and MA degrees from Pennsylvania State University and his PhD degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of numerous books and articles on American government and public policy, including The Irony of Democracy, now in its fourteenth edition; Politics in States and Communities and Understanding Public Policy, both now in their fourteenth editions; Politics in Florida; American Politics in the Media Age; Power and Society; American Federalism; Top Down Policymaking; and Politics, Economics and the Public.

“Almost all introductory textbooks either ignore or only superficially mention the vast concentrations of private power, institutions, and decision-making in America and their consequences for meaningful democracy. For more than two decades, Who’s Running America? has filled this enormous gap. Thoughtfully and methodically, Dye analyzes the role of major institutions in decision-making and in constraining democracy. Well-illustrated with examples, Dye presents an up-to-date analysis that Hamilton and the Madison of Federalist 10 would find agreeable.” —David Johns, Portland State University, author of A New Conservation Politics

• Chapter 1 Elitism in a Democracy; Chapter 2 The Corporate Directors; Chapter 3 The Money Elite; Chapter 4 The Media Moguls; Chapter 5 The Governing Circles; Chapter 6 The Civic Establishment; Chapter 7 How Institutional Elites make Public Policy; Chapter 8 The Structure of Institutional Power; Chapter 9 Institutional Elites in America;