Pluralism
- Created by: yazminab
- Created on: 25-04-19 16:06
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- PLURALISM
- What do pluralist theorists believe?
- Explains the distribution of power in western liberal democracies.
- Power is society is widely dispersed among a wide range of interest groups and is open to negotiation.
- Politics involves competition between a variety of groups, with neither being permanently dominant.
- Pluralism and the state
- Locke's social contact: The people will give their consent to be ruled but can remove this consent.
- Eg, the removal of the Labour government in 2010
- The state should be a neutral referee.
- The state should listen to all opinions and decide who gets their wishes granted.
- 'Honest broker'
- HS2 rail line: groups could express their opinions at various stages of the planning process.
- Eg, Campaign for High Speed Rail or Stop HS2.
- The state should represent all views and make compromises.
- Minority views should be balanced against the majorities.
- Eg, divisions on Brexit.
- Views expressed, such as through e-petitions.
- No one group should be allowed to dominate.
- Eg, interest groups in gov, such as Countryside Alliance.
- Locke's social contact: The people will give their consent to be ruled but can remove this consent.
- Theories of pluralism.
- Classical Pluralism:
- Power with the people.
- Division not domination.
- Power is equally distributed.
- Western Liberal Democracies are best.
- Does not rely on coercion.
- Competition between groups.
- Elite Pluralism:
- The masses are not educated enough to influence government.
- Not everyone has the same amount of power or equal access to it.
- Eg, insider pressure groups such as CBI or National Farmers Union.
- Classical Pluralism:
- Criticisms of pluralism
- Underestimate the amount of secrecy in state decision making.
- 30 year secrecy rule e.g. JFK assassination or Hillsborough disaster.
- Too optimistic and idealist.
- Underestimates the power of wealthy elites.
- Influence of NRA on gun control policies in USA.
- Ignores the importance of business interests (Marxist and radical Elitist view)
- Dominance of men in government and life (feminist view)
- Governments will not always respond to pressures.
- Pressure from public on MLAs is ignored.
- Classical pluralism only looks at the first fake of Luke's: decision making.
- Underestimate the amount of secrecy in state decision making.
- What do pluralist theorists believe?
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