ABSTRACT
Ideological elements are still prevalent in the broad-range political interpretations advanced today. A few political investigators are acutely aware of the ideological elements in their interpretations; however, many others suggest or imply that they have overcome the problem of ideology. Although numerous variations have developed within them, two broad conceptual frameworks have historically competed for the honor of serving as the organizing framework for political inquiry. Power has to do with whatever decisions men make about the arrangements under which they live, and about the events which make up the history of their times. Events that are beyond human decision do happen; social arrangements do change without benefit of explicit decision. However power is defined, the empirical investigator must look for certain indicators of power in testing his hypotheses. In the pluralist-elitist debate, each side makes a set of strategic decisions which reflect perspective brought to inquiry and which in cumulative effect push outcomes of inquiry in the preferred direction.
