Robert Dahl (1915–2014) was a preeminent American political scientist often referred to as the "dean of American political scientists". Over a career spanning seven decades, he transformed the study of democracy from abstract philosophy into an empirical science. As a long-time professor at Yale University , Dahl introduced foundational concepts such as "polyarchy" and "pluralism" that remain central to political theory today. Early Life and Military Service

Pure democracy is an unattainable ideal where everyone has a perfectly equal say.

In Dahl’s view, power isn't held by a small elite (sorry, C. Wright Mills) nor by a fickle mob. Power is dispersed among thousands of interest groups. Because most people are passive on most issues, the groups who care the most about a specific policy tend to win—until another group pushes back.

He noticed that while America had the procedures of polyarchy (free elections, free speech), it lacked the substance . He argued that massive economic inequality inevitably creates political inequality.