Compare and contrast pluralist theory and conflict theory.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Ans: Pluralist theory recognizes that governments are socially and culturally heterogeneous. They state that in order to represent those perspectives, the use of interest groups will represent the citizens in that group so that the government can make changes effectively. The problem is that governments are not neutral in when it comes to social issues and often rule in favor of groups with money. Conflict theory recognizes that societies are pluralistic but that the interests of social groups are often incompatible with one another. Further, conflict theory posits that some groups are more powerful than others and are therefore more likely to see their interests and values reflected in government policymaking. Groups with greater resources use their power to create systems of law, economy, politics, and education that favor them, their children, and other group members. Unlike pluralistic theory, which views competing interests as having relatively comparable and shifting opportunities and access to power, conflict theory sees power as being concentrated in the hands of a privileged few groups and individuals. These gains of the elites are at the expense of those with fewer resources.
KEY: Learning Objective: 14.2: Explain theories of state power.
REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: The Conflict Perspective and Class Dominance Theory
Difficulty Level: Hard