Pluralism Vs Interest Group Analysis

Thousands of years ago in ancient Greece, the idea of democracy meant “rule by the people” but today it has turned into a much more broader definition. These include regime type, electoral system, interest group representation, and federal versus unitary constitutions. According to the readings from Comparative Politics by David J. Samuels, there are three elements required in a democracy. Those are accountability, participation, and contestation. Accountability would be a way for citizens to have the realistic opportunity to remove rulers from office, though in a legal and peaceful manner. Participation must be made so that political choices are natural and not forced and that clear rules institutionalize universal suffrage. Contestations

Under pluralism, interest groups have free organization and mobilization. Pluralism has a decentralized organization structure. Decisions are made from the bottom up based on the competition between groups and there is a separation between interest groups and government. Under pluralism, there is a free market system that favors effective political entrepreneurs and efficient and well organized interest groups that have a strong collective action. Some strengths of pluralism are that free competition allows anyone to have access to share their position and work toward a policy that favors their goals. The state does not impede or influence interest group formation. Some weaknesses are not all interests can organized equally or raise funds as effectively. Corporatism is a single association that represents each interest. It has a centralized system with limited peak association and labors and unions are under one group. Unlike pluralism, decisions in corporatism are made from the top down through negotiation. The government coordinates the meetings between the peak associations. Some strengths of corporatism are its effectiveness and consensus. Since the peak associations are involved in the policymaking process, key interests are assured an influence in government decisions. The bargaining process helps to assure that all sides can agree with the final outcome. Some weaknesses are the large

A unitary state is when the constitution grants the central government exclusive and final authority over policymaking across the entire national territory. It grants the central government veto power over subnational governments’ decisions. Local governments have no autonomous authority to make policy. Strengths to unitary states are that in a homogenous society it may help promote effective government without sacrificing much in terms of limiting government. Some weaknesses are it will give little voice to minorities and those in local government. A federal state is when the constitution grants two or more governments overlapping political authority over the same group of people and same piece of territory. The constitution must grant governments at the local, state, or provincial level exclusive control over at least one policy area. The central government cannot veto policy decisions that fall under subnational governments’ control. Some strengths to this is that it gives minority groups some voice at the local level and this will make them more willing to negotiate on other issues at the national level. A weakness is this will not work well with homogenous