Consider whether the activities of pressure groups help or hinder the operation of a pluralist democracy in the USA.

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Conor Slater 2.36

Consider whether the activities of pressure groups help or hinder the operation of a pluralist democracy in the USA.

        Interest groups seek to influence decision makers in to vote in a way that benefit’s the group’s interests such as the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the American Medical Association (AMA). The US is a pluralist democracy which means that there is more than one centre of power, this means that there are many access points that interest groups can target. Many interest groups have offices on Washington DC’s “K Street” giving easy access to the Capitol which is the centre of US Federal Government. There are varying views on interest groups and their effects on democracy, the main viewpoints are those of pluralists, neo-elitists and elitists.

        The Pluralists are of the opinion that interest groups are good for society and act as a safety valve, as expressed by Robert Dahl in his book “Who Governs”.

        Interest groups allow groups of people who share the same ideals to come together and act towards furthering their views and representing those without representation, be it through disenfranchisement, lack of awareness or the dominance of another social group within their Congressional District/State (Their elected representative is not representative of them). The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was set up to promote civil rights for African-Americans, many of whom were excluded from politics due to the literacy tests required to be able to vote. The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) also lobbies extensively, protecting the rights of Irish-Americans and Irish immigrants with the US, such as the fight against the deportation of Paul Brennan after his escape from H.M.P. Maze during the Troubles.

The numerous access points, afforded through the pluralist democracy of the US, also mean that if counsel is refused at one point than a substitute is more than likely available. This means that discrimination against groups from certain individuals in power need not spell the end of their efforts in lobbying. The whole system is similar and there are no barriers against a group organising and enjoying representation through an interest group. The result of which is the large and varied number of interest groups which operate in the US, ranging from the veritable behemoth of the American Association of Retired People (AARP) with it’s 35m members to the more obscure Sons of Norway.

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        It could be argued that the freedom to set up such groups could easily lead to activists influencing decision makers to the detriment of those who don’t agree with their views. However, no group operates without opposition from another interest group meaning that potentially exclusive views can’t be left unchallenged; the disputes which inevitably arise often help to form the policies that eventually created. This is a perfect example of democracy in action with everyone expressing their views, no group can dominate completely. The Christian Fundamentalist Liberty Foundation is counteracted by the National Abortion Federation (NAF) and the National Organisation ...

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