Powerand political decision-making

The text deals with theories which define and explain political power by the process of political decision-making. The most important and most influential theory that belongs to the circle of concepts linking power and decision-making is the theory of power offered by Robert Dahl. Therefore the first part of this paper analyzes Dahl's concept of power. The second part analyzes two attitudes critical towards Dahl's theory. First analyzed is the two-dimensional concept of power by Peter Bachrach and Morton Baratz; then, the three- dimensional or radical theory of power by Steven Lukes. The text ends with short conclusion remarks.