Differences between Elitism and Pluralism - Essay Example

A Brief Introduction A political set up is often defined as an administration which governs a nation in accordance to a set of predefined rules. Of the various categories of governments, the elite as well as the pluralism forms are often considered an essential part of an effective administration. Elite is often considered superior and hence elitism is symbolic to those groups or classes which are favored in accordance to their intellect, social status and financial powers. This controlled rule and domination by certain social classes has also been advocated by Plato and Schumpeter. In simple words, elite administration is an administration which is based on the vested interests of a specific economic class. Pluralism, on the other hand is based on diversity and acceptance and is stated to be implemented for the common good of the people. With special regards to a modern economic, social and political development, pluralism is considered to be the most effective and cost efficient system. Differences Between Elitism And Pluralism Elitism and pluralism are two separate entities. If you feel the need to differentiate between the two, you would need to study their individual characteristics. (Elitism: The future of american foreign policy: elitism versus pluralism) Characteristics Of Elitism Although there are various attributes attached to the elite, there is no single definition of the term. Likewise, the term elite can also be used to describe a class or group of people who have the required wealth and the essential social status to influence class determination. Listed below are a few personal attributes which are directly linked to the elitist theory. 1) An elitist is an individual who is considered proficient in a particular field. 2) He/she is said to be an accomplished professional who is blessed with a thumping track record. 3) He/she is a dedicated professional and is known to have contributed substantially in his/her profession. 4) He/she is considered to possess a higher degree of wisdom and is therefore considered capable of imparting an impersonal training schedule. The upper class and the aristocratic status are often assigned to the elite class and this in turn has led us to believe that they have a hold over the means of production in an elitist society. Characteristics Of Pluralism 1) The political power does not lie with the electorate. 2) Power is not confined to the elite but is subdivided into numerous groups such as trade unions, business organizations, interest groups and other informal as well as formal coalitions. 3) The existence of diverse and competing interests allows the administration to function towards common goals. 4) The power of administration is confined to an interest group and is not granted to an individual. The pluralism concept is often considered essential for the US set up as it is not individualistic in nature and is governed owing to numerous resources. These resources can enhance the overall power of the politicians by providing opportunities in terms of legal authority, prestige, knowledge, skill and monetary benefits. Henceforth, as compared to elite system, the pluralism theory is ideal for the US set up. (Allaboutreligion) (Bryner) The Advantages Of Pluralism There are numerous reasons why we support pluralism. We shall discuss the three main reasons. Reason 1 The biggest reason which advocates the concept of pluralism is the ability of the pluralistic society to differentiate between potential and actual power. Actual power is undoubtedly the ability to force an individual through compulsive force whereas potential power is the ability to transform a potential resource into usable power. A perfect example of this concept is the currency bills. If there is no power attached to cash, the bills would continue to remain plain pieces of paper and vice versa. The pluralist approach categorically states that resource cannot be equated with power unless or until that resource is utilized in a skilled fashion. For example, Martin Luther King was not a rich person but he had the charisma to utilize the available resources to govern American politics in a prosperous manner. (OConnor and Sabato) Reason 2 Pluralists believe that leadership is marked by an overt activity and not personal reputation. Secondly, the pluralistic society is based on group statistics and not individuals. Hence, in case a particular interest group is trying to be selfish in conduct, other groups would counter the effort and dissuade the interest group from becoming biased in its action. Human behavior is governed by inertia and hence, pluralist society is focused on a common problem instead of individualistic issues. This approach would prove politically beneficial for a nation. Resources are scattered in the society and few resources are readily available to everyone. Likewise, potential power has the capacity to exceed actual power. Reason 3 By far the most important reason which makes pluralism strong in belief and even stronger in execution is its ability to segregate power. Over here, the logic is simple and it clearly states that while a particular group is strong in a particular field; it may be weak in another. A classic example of this situation is the agricultural sector, which is supposed to have all sorts of information on agriculture and agricultural produce but the same group is ineffective in the field of defense. Power holders in a pluralistic society have a rather limited scope of influence and are effective in their own fields. (Bryner) Conclusion: Pluralism is of immense importance to a political set up and if you wish to enhance the overall governance of an organization, you need to quit the elite set up and adopt the methodology of diverse groups. Here, the concentration of power is not limited to a single individual or a group of elites but is divided into various groups. Each group is a master in its own field and accountable for their actions to other groups. Pluralism set up is beneficial in the longer with regards to a lack of biased and creative governance. Likewise, if pluralism is granted permission to operate in accordance to its basic principles, not only would you get the pleasure of allowing various interest groups to showcase their talents and defend their rights, they would also encourage growth owing to a stiff competition from other interest groups. In the end, I would categorically state that a pluralistic society is more diverse and progressive when compared to an elite set up. Works Cited Allaboutreligion. Pluralism Definition. 17 December 2008 . Bryner, Gary C. In Search of the Republic: Public Virtue and the Roots of American Government. Rowman & Littlefield, 1996. Elitism: The future of american foreign policy: elitism versus pluralism. 17 December 2008 . OConnor, Karen and Larry Sabato. American Government: Continuity and Change. Pearson Longman, 2003. Read More