Capitalism, Socialism, and Political Equality

What is the relationship between capitalism, socialism, and political equality? Several recent essays by Robert A. Dahl on the ideal of “procedural democracy” in political and economic life have significantly advanced our understanding of this issue without, however, providing an altogether satisfactory resolution. I shall therefore attempt here to further advance the valuable dialogue (“What is Political Equality?”) initiated by Philip Green and continued by Robert A. Dahl in the Summer 1979 issue of Dissent. I shall focus upon what I take to be a critical ambiguity in Dahl’s recent discussions of the relationship between ownership and control of the modern productive enterprise. I will claim that Dahl̵...