Political Science 1020E Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Mancur Olson, New Social Movements, Corporatism
23 Mar 2016
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De tocqueville modern democracy best grounded on interests, associations. Early 20th century american political science embraced pluralism: interests easily form into groups, fair competition of interests, influence in line with size and intensity. Interest group outperform parties at linking people and government. Competition, bargaining, compromise: policy is not the result of parties winning election but the result of competition. Response neopluralism: no level play field, no single united power elite. Privileging of some groups at expense of others. Medieval corporatism: corporate groups (aristocracy, clergy, producers) State corporatism: corporate groups tightly bound to authoritarian state. Liberal or neo-corporatism: emphasis on labour and capital, encouragement of effectively organized peak associations, tripartite negotiations including the state. Why is the state interested: creates social peace, business confidence, generates acceptance and legitimacy, promotes sense of shared responsibility for tough decisions. Downsides: reinforces class divisions, sidelines representative democracy, the more corporatism the less parliament matters, the less elections matter, creates opening for social movements, protest parties.
