Book Reviews : Law and Social Action. Selected Essays of ALEXANDER H. PEKELIS. Edited by Milton R. Konvitz. (Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press. 1950. Pp. xi, 272. $3.50.)

• Author: Harold M. Dorr
• Date: 01 December 1951
• DOI: 10.1177/106591295100400420
• Published date: 01 December 1951
• Subject Matter: Articles

659
enlargement of one group or its adaptation of new techniques is likely
to disturb the equilibrium for other groups, thus stimulating a &dquo;wavelike
pattern&dquo;: organization begets counter-organization; activity calls forth
counter-activity. Further, &dquo;potential groups&dquo; form around collective inter-
ests in maintaining the &dquo;rules of the game.&dquo; The estimates of such potential
political behavior constrains the action of organized political groups.
Part Two, group organization and the problems of leadership, analyzes
formal organization as influenced by widely shared attitudes favoring the
&dquo;democratic mold.&dquo; The &dquo;active minority&dquo; is examined (the term ~lite is
avoided). &dquo;Overlapping membership&dquo; in groups with possible conflicting
claims poses a problem of internal cohesion, but provides an important
restraint upon group activity. Indeed, the political significance of &dquo;over-
lapping membership&dquo; is a major theme. Against this background, the
nature, functions, and techniques of leadership are studied.
Part Three, on &dquo;the tactics of influence,&dquo; examines group activity
in its relationship to public opinion, the political parties, elections, the
legislature, the administrative agencies, and the courts. Part Four is a one-
chapter appraisal of group politics and representative democracy. The
author examines the possibilities of &dquo;morbific politics,&dquo; and appraises
proposals for reform. While emphasizing the stabilizing effect of &dquo;over-
lapping membership,&dquo; he recognizes that this effect may be seriously
limited if the overlap occurs only within sharply defined strata or classes
which differ in their interpretations of the &dquo;rules of the game.&dquo;
Truman’s book is commended for wide use in courses dealing with
political parties, the legislative process, public opinion, public administra-
tion, and American government. Its clarity and systematic development
qualify it for...