Author Question: The idea of pluralism assumes that government policy reflects the balance of competing interest ... (Read 46 times)

abc · **on:** Jul 10, 2018

The idea of pluralism assumes that government policy reflects the balance of competing interest groups. What are the strengths and weaknesses of this position?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What demographic constituencies are represented by the mainstream American political parties? How have their geographic centers of strength shifted in the last half century?

What will be an ideal response?

cassie_ragen · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 10, 2018

Answer to Question 1

An ideal response will:
1, Identify one or more strengths of pluralism, such as the fact that the idea highlights the importance of interest groups in policymaking and explains the dynamics of interest group competition.
2, Identify one or more weaknesses of pluralism, including the fact that groups do not always form in response to grievances and that wealthy interests tend to predominate.

Answer to Question 2

An ideal response will:
1, Explain that the strongest Republican supporters are among whites (especially in the South and Rocky Mountain West), conservative Christians and the most religiously committed (i.e., those who believe in God and regularly attend services), businesspeople (from both small businesses and corporations), economic and social conservatives, people in rural areas, and those with the highest incomes.
2, Describe the strongest Democratic supporters as being among African Americans, Jews, non-Cuban Hispanics, people who are secular in belief, people with postgraduate degrees, union households, economic and social liberals, teachers, government employees, people living in university towns and science and technology research centers such as Silicon Valley, people living on the West Coast and in the Northeast, and lower-income people.
3, Detail how in the 1960s, Democrats tended to dominate in the southern states and in the industrial states of the Middle Atlantic and upper Midwest, while Republicans were strong in parts of New England, the Great Plains, the Mountain West, and the Pacific Coast; but today Democrats can usually count on winning the West Coast and New England states, Illinois, New York, and New Jersey, while Republicans can count on the South outside of Florida and the Southwest, Mountain West, and Plains states.