How valid is the pluralist analysis in modern day liberal democracies?

Liberal democracies also allow the people a variety of political parties to choose from in elections.  This also links in with the fact that the voting systems chosen will represent each of these parties equally.  In reality this is not always true.  For example in Britain FPTP allows more than two parties to run in elections but doesn’t fairly represent other parties such as the liberal democrats.  The electoral system in Italy has caused a series of unsuccessful short lived parties to share power in coalitions for over 40 years thus suggesting the general will of the people is not being represented.  However the fact there is a wide range of parties to choose from confirms pluralism is at work.

Even though it can be argued the pluralist analysis is diminishing in modern day liberal democracies PG keep it alive.  A small elite group may be representing the people but even Pg existence means the state can remain neutral with power widely dispersed.  In Britain it was the PG ((Charter or Liberty?)) that caused reforms of parliament to be introduced to make it a more modern representative of the people.  

In America pluralism works due to the great diversity of not only the country but races, religions and cultures that make up its society.  Dahl noted that America was not monopolised by one group but was distributed throughout showing true democracy and therefore pluralism.

However in pluralist societies economics is dominant and Mills argued that business interests are most powerful in liberal democracies.  Recently American firms have been given a $10 bn contract to rebuild Iraq after the war showing that Bush has initiated this war with a business interest in mind.  Bush will benefit from the oil fields he will acquire if he “liberates” Iraq and many members of his cabinet, like Donald Rumsfield, who have shares in arms firms will also benefit.  This certain elitism is also shown by the fact that in America PG exert more influence the more money they possess and congressmen therefore allow insider PG more access to decision making.  This proves that business is important and the mass public only have a say on minor issues.  However this PG activity does not reject pluralism as power is still spread out it just lends itself to elitism as the way the power is distributed allows a more wealthy dominant class.

Marx stated that pluralism wouldn’t work because there will always be elites in society.  This still applies to modern day liberal democracies as wealth is the basis of power due to economics and the business class and this actually means the state is not neutral.  For example Murdock dominates politics through his vast media empire.  He also has close links with Blair who is supposedly governing Britain as neutral.  Murdock position and ability to control public opinion questions pluralism, vindicates Marxism and gives and example of a technocratic elite.  Ideological and cultural control of the masses is hegemony and this is also shown by Italian technocrat Berlusconi who went onto become a successful politician subsequent to being a media baron.  Marx argues that the dominant ideas in any society are that of the ruling class and how can you escape these ideas if the ruling class have control of or access to the mass media.

America lends itself as a perfect example of how Marx is right.  Presidents Bush’s cousin in charge of Fox news and will therefore give a positive opinion of all Bush’s policies.  This is true of the current war with Iraq with Fox news giving out positive opinion polls even though many of America population are unhappy about going to war with Saddam Hussein.  America’s corrupt congressmen who bend to the will of rich PG are also examples of how business elites are having significant input in policy making.  To top it all off America’s cabinet is not made up of experienced ministers but rich businessmen who have outside interest that are not restricted like they are by the Standards and Privileges committee in Britain.  As opposed to representing the true pluralist model America is leaning more towards a classic example of elitism.