A dilemma is presented by the values of liberty and equality in regard to intere

Question

A dilemma is presented by the values of liberty and equality in regard to interest-group activity. On the one hand, individuals should have the liberty to organize themselves politically in order to express their views. On the other hand, there is a strong class bias in the politics of organized interests. Analyze the theory of pluralism. What are some of the pluralists presumptions concerning the role of interests and factions in American politics? How did James Madison suggest factions be dealt with? What are some contemporary criticisms of pluralism?

Explanation / Answer

Pluralism is the view that politics and decision making are located mostly in the framework of government, but that many non-governmental groups use their resources to exert influence. In pluralism, groups of individuals try to maximize their interests and lines of conflict are multiple and shifting as power is a continuous bargaining process between competing groups. There may be inequalities but they tend to be distributed and evened out by the various forms and distributions of resources throughout a population. Any change under this view will be slow and incremental, as groups have different interests and may act as "veto groups" to destroy legislation.

The pluralists presumptions concerning the role of interests and factions in American politics are that it is associated with democracy, a system of checks and balances of power that forge a consensus of the general interest that dictates government policy.

James Madison suggested that there should be as many factions as possible so that no one faction could consolidate power and essentially form a dictatorship.

The contemporary criticisms of pluralism says that it over-represents the wealthy in society and that they provide self-serving and biased information that warp policy-making.

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