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Encyclopedia > Pluralism (political theory)

The political theory of pluralism holds that political power in society does not lie with the electorate but is distributed between a wide number of groups. These groups may be Trade Unions, interest groups, business organisations, and any of a multitude of formal and informal coalitions.[1] In politics, an electorate is the group of people entitled to vote in an election. ... A union (labor union in American English; trade union, sometimes trades union, in British English; either labour union or trade union in Canadian English) is a legal entity consisting of employees or workers having a common interest, such as all the assembly workers for one employer, or all the workers... Advocacy is an umbrella term for organized activism related to a particular set of issues. ...

Contents

Classical Pluralism

Robert A. Dahl wrote the seminal pluralist work, Who Governs?. Robert Alan Dahl (b. ... Who Governs? is an influential book in American political science by Robert Dahl. ...


Elite pluralism

There were some objections to this model of pluralism. However, Critici argue that groups need a high level of resources and the support of patrons to be able to contend for influence. This observation formed the basis for the theory of elite pluralism. This modified pluralism to take into account elements of elite theory and was advanced by writers such as Elmer Eric Schattschneider who wrote that “The flaw in the pluralist heaven is that the heavenly chorus sings with a strong upper-class accent.”[2] Elite theory is a theory of the state which seeks to describe and explain the power relationships in modern society. ... E.E. Schattschenider was born in Bethany, Minnesota in on August 11, 1892. ...


Neo-pluralism

While Pluralism as a political theory of the state and policy formation gained its most traction during the 1950s and 1960s in America, some scholars argued that the theory was too simplistic (see Connolly (1969) The Challenge to Pluralist Theory) - leading to the formulation of neo-pluralism.


Charles Lindblom

Charles E. Lindblom, who is seen as positing a strong neo-pluralist argument, still attributed primacy to the competition between interest groups in the policy process but recognized the disproportionate influence business interests have in the policy process. Charles Edward Lindblom (b. ... An interest group (also called an advocacy group, lobbying group, pressure group (UK), or special interest) is a group, however loosely or tightly organized, doing advocacy: those determined to encourage or prevent changes in public policy without trying to be elected. ...


Corporatism

Classical pluralism was criticised as it did not seem to apply to Westminster-style democracies or the European context. This lead to the development of corporatist theories. Corporatism is the idea that a few select interest groups are actually (often formally) involved in the policy formulation process, to the exclusion of the myriad other 'interest groups'. For example, Trade Unions and major sectoral business associations are often consulted about (if not the drivers of) specific policies ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... A Trade Union (Labour union) ... is a continuous association of wage-earners for the purpose of maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment. ...


See also

Elite theory is a theory of the state which seeks to describe and explain the power relationships in modern society. ... New institutionalism is a social theory that focuses on developing a sociological view of institutions, the way they interact and the effects of institutions on society. ... Marxism refers to the philosophy and social theory based on Karl Marxs work on one hand, and the political practice based on Marxist theory on the other hand (namely, parts of the First International during Marxs time, communist parties and later states). ...

Notes

  1. ^ Socialstudieshelp.com, Pluralism
  2. ^ Schattschneider, E.E. 1960. The Semi-Sovereign People. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, p. 35.

References

  • Socialstudieshelp.com, Pluralism. Accessed 13 February, 2007.
  • Schattschneider, E.E. (1960) The Semi-Sovereign People. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.


 

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