Final answer:
Pluralism, elitism, and hyper pluralism are theories that explain how political power is distributed in a society. Pluralism argues that power is dispersed among interest groups, while elitism believes in the dominance of a small elite group. Hyper pluralism suggests that the proliferation of interest groups weakens government.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pluralism, elitism, and hyper pluralism are three theories that explain how political power is distributed in a society.
Pluralism argues that power is dispersed among various interest groups in society, each having the ability to influence government decisions. This theory assumes that citizens have multiple access points to the government and can participate in the political process.
Elitism, on the other hand, believes that a small elite group of individuals, typically wealthy and powerful, controls and influences government decisions. According to this theory, the majority of citizens have little to no influence on government actions.
Hyper pluralism is an extension of pluralism that suggests the proliferation of interest groups actually weakens government and leads to an inability to make cohesive decisions. In this perspective, the multitude of groups creates gridlock and prevents effective governance.