School desegregation in Wilmington, Delaware: a case study in non-decision-making

Abstract

This study argues that the pluralist description of local majoritarian decision-making processes are inadequate. A more thorough description of political activity can be achieved through non-decision theory. Non-decision theory takes account of the biases and values inherent in political systems and sub-systems. Non-decision theory focuses not only on issues which are decided in the local decision-making arena, but also on topics which are not considered in the local arena. Utilizing the non-decision approach in this case study on school desegregation in Wilmington, it is possible to uncover the political activity involved in restricting the scope of decision-making. This case study presents evidence indicating that the initiation of the 1971 Wilmington desegregation lawsuit resulted from the consistent mobilization of bias against desegregation and the exclusion of the desegregation topic from the local decision-making arena in 1968 until frustrated individuals expanded the scope of decision-making to include the courts. Overall, this study concludes that non-decision theory offers a more complete examination of political reality.