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Duncan Black and Lewis Carroll

Author

Listed:
  • Iain McLean
  • Alistair McMillan
  • Burt L. Monroe

Abstract

After evaluating the stature of Duncan Black as one of the founders of the modern theoretical study of politics, we show how frustrated Black was by the lack of recognition accorded to his work, especially in the UK. This led to considerable difficulty in getting his work published. In particular, his work on a like-minded predecessor, C. L. Dodgson (`Lewis Carroll'), remains in part unpublished. In it, Black withdraws his earlier assertion that Carroll's work on proportional representation and tennis tournaments was `trivial', in favor of detailed analysis of Carroll's contribution, which Black praises extravagantly as being one of the most important contributions ever to Political Science. We conclude by relating Carroll's theorem of 1884 on the proportionality of what is now called Single Nontransferable Vote (SNTV) to the modern literature.

Suggested Citation

  • Iain McLean & Alistair McMillan & Burt L. Monroe, 1995. "Duncan Black and Lewis Carroll," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 7(2), pages 107-123, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jothpo:v:7:y:1995:i:2:p:107-123
    DOI: 10.1177/0951692895007002001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Paul Downing & Elizabeth Stafford, 1981. "Citations as an indicator of classic works and major contributors in social choice," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 37(2), pages 219-230, January.
    2. Duncan Black, 1949. "The Elasticity Of Committee Decisions With Alterations In The Members' Preference Schedules," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 17(1), pages 88-102, March.
    3. Lembke B., 1918. "√ a. p," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 111(1), pages 709-712, February.
    4. Duncan Black, 1967. "The central argument in Lewis Carroll's The Principles of Parliamentary Representation," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 1-17, January.
    5. Anthony Downs, 1957. "An Economic Theory of Political Action in a Democracy," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 65, pages 135-135.
    6. Mitchell, William C, 1993. "Prolegomenon to Public Choice: The Aborted Work of George E. G. Catlin," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 77(2), pages 445-453, October.
    7. Black, Duncan, 1969. "Lewis Carroll and the Theory of Games," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 59(2), pages 206-210, May.
    8. Cox, Gary W., 1994. "Strategic Voting Equilibria under the Single Nontransferable Vote," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 88(3), pages 608-621, September.
    9. Cox, Gary W. & Rosenbluth, Frances, 1993. "The Electoral Fortunes of Legislative Factions in Japan," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 87(3), pages 577-589, September.
    10. Duncan Black, 1970. "Lewis Carroll and the Cambridge mathematical school of P.R.; Arthur Cohen and Edith Denman," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 8(1), pages 1-28, March.
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