The role of the government in a Pluralist Democracy is to protect and promote diversity. This theory deems human nature selfish and acquisitive. Early political scientists questioned whether it was possible for a Developmental Democracy to exist. They noted that, while some are interested, most people are apathetic toward politics. Party leaders and politicians handle the day-to-day affairs of the government and not all citizens can influence them equally. Power, according to this theory, drifts into the hands of a few people. This is known as the "iron law of oligarchy." Bernard Berelson, Paul Lazarsfeld, and William McPhee found evidence supporting this scenario in their survey of citizens in Elmira, New York after the 1948 presidential election (Berelson 314). In their opinion, this mixture of citizen interest and apathy contributes positively to our nation’s democratic government:

How could mass democracy work if all the people were deeply involved in politics? Lack of interest by some people is not without its benefits, too. … Extreme interest goes with extreme partisanship and might culminate in rigid fanaticism that could destroy democratic processes if generalized throughout the community. Low effect toward the election…underlies the resolution of many political problems; votes can be resolved into a two party split instead of fragmented into many parties. … Low interest provides maneuvering room for political shifts necessary for a complex society. … Some people are and should be highly interested in politics, but not everyone is or needs to be. (Berelson 314)

Pluralistic politics require a base of social diversity in order to succeed. Pluralists feel that although not every individual will want or try to have a voice, special interest groups will represent the opinions of all people. Interest group leaders have more knowledge regarding the inner workings of government than ordinary citizens and therefore are able to channel democratic voices to the politicians in power more effectively. In a Pluralist Democracy, there will be a special interest group for almost every different opinion held by the populous, so even without the people taking an active role, representation for all will be achieved. Politicians seek to please the special interest groups, supposing that this will lead to more support among the electors. In a Pluralist Democracy, government policy will be a juncture of the ideas held by the various interest groups representing the population. While the United States incorporates elements from all of these models, America most resembles a Pluarlist Democracy. The Pluralist model, one in which representatives speak for the population, developed after political and social scientists observed the apathetic view of people toward the government (Lewis; Hudson 15-19).

A More Perfect Union was created by ThinkQuest Team 26466: Eric Barr, Taylor Rankin, and John Baird.
This website is a ThinkQuest entry focusing on the various facets of American democracy.
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