Popkin’s theory of the “reasoning voter.”

The Populistic Theory of Democracy advocates that since “unanimity is impossible, the

rule of the majority” is the only plausible and conceivable form of governance in a democracy

(Dahl 35). The emphasis on the principle of the majority rule by the Populistic Theory of

Democracy is informed by the fact that anticipating a political situation where the minority rule

is the permanent arrangement that is completely untenable and inadmissible (Dahl 36). This is

because placing the minority rule as a permanent arrangement for governing a democracy

inevitably causes irresistible revolt of the majority (Dahl 44). Thus, it is expected that the

minorities cannot apply any rationality, because it will not count in the end of the political

process, whereby “the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail” (Dahl 35). As a result,

according to the Populistic Theory of Democracy, the rule of the majority is supreme and

entrenched in democracy.

According to Populistic Theory of Democracy, popular sovereignty and political equality

are two important conditions for democracy. However, Dahl indicates that “the majority

principle provides no solution for cases where each of the alternatives is preferred by an equal

number of citizens” (39). It is evident that a successful democracy can not emerge from majority

rule. Therefore, The political system under the Populistic Democracy cannot work because “if

deadlock in a choice between two alternatives that are very highly ranked by the respective

partisans, then violence and civil war may well result” (Dahl 39). It simply suggests that this

political system can create “violence,” with no way to avoid it. The fundamental law of political

system is to create a stable society, so the Populistic Democracy cannot operate a successful

political system. In such respect, some form of checks and balances should be established in the

form of creating governmental processes that are accessible and can be equally maximized by

all, including the minorities (Dahl 59). Hence, the Populistic Theory of Democracy is

extremely dangerous to operate a successful democracy.