Comparing Pluralist and Marxist Accounts of Power in the UK and US

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Comparing Pluralist and Marxist Accounts of Power in the UK and US

Pluralism and Marxism both offer comprehensive theories about the

location of power within the modern state. Both theories to some

extent were based on Western governments; with Marxism being developed

partly through Engels’ experiences in Manchester in the mid nineteenth

century and Pluralism being developed through the studies in America

in the mid twentieth century; but they both offer radically different

ideas about who holds power in the UK and the US. We should, however,

be wary about using terms such as ‘pluralism’ and ‘Marxism’ without

acknowledging that many different variations of the theories exist,

and that they have both developed over time. It must be seen,

therefore that my analysis of the accounts of power in either system

can hardly be holistic.

One of the basic premises of pluralism is that the more power is

dispersed between different groups within a society, no single group

will have a monopoly of power, and the problems of ruling elites or a

single ruling class will be altogether avoided. Pluralism is

descriptive, and asserts that modern states have developed mechanisms

over time which avoid state monism and encourage a diverse range of

methods and channels through which a citizen can control political

leaders and shape the development of public policies.[1] To this end,

therefore, pluralists invest key institutions such as the media,

pressure groups the state and elections with the importance of

diffusing power to individuals, which prevents a single group or

institution from controlling the state.

Marxism accounts for the location of pow...

... middle of paper ...

...ust

concessions, and that the government are interested in worker’s

welfare.

What is clear is that pluralists and Marxists agree in some small ways

in their accounts of power in the US and the UK, but that mainly they

place completely different emphasis on the role of class and dispersal

of power, so their differences are always going to be significant.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

[1] P Dunleavy and B O‘Leary. Theories of the State (Basingstoke:

Macmillan. 1987) pp.14

[2] Ibid. pp 38

[3] Op. Cit. pp. 41

[4] R. Dahl, Who Governs? Democracy and Power in an American City (New

Haven: Yale University

Press. 1961) pp. 279

[5] Ibid. pp. 35

[6] Ibid. pp. 35

[7] T. Eagleton, Ideology: An Introduction (London: Verso publishing.

1991) pp. 89

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