What is Pluralism?

Pluralist theory is the only model to suggest unambiguously that PG’s do enhance democracy because they complement representative institutions like elections and parliaments.

A pluralist society is one with a diffusion of power among many divergent groups.

The crucial elements of a pluralist system are:

There are many PG’s competing with one another for influence over policy

The leadership of PG’s is responsive to its membership

While PG’s may make continuing representations to government, the government remains independent of the PG’s.

What is Corporatism?

When the major PG’s in society work closely with the government in the hope of achieving mutually beneficial goals, this is known as ‘corporatism’.

It was a feature of British politics in the 1960s and 1970s, and is an alternative concept to pluralism.

During this period, the TUC and the CBI formed close ties with government.

They were consulted before industrial or economic policies were decided.

Since corporatism in Britain involved three parties(TUC, CBI and government), it was known as ‘tripartism’.

When Thacther came to power in 1979 she put an end to corporatism and she was also against pluralism.