Final answer:
"Entrenched interests" maintain the status quo by influencing various factors like public opinion and political culture, with their success varying depending on public mobilization and political circumstances. Although they have power, they cannot always overcome opposition from an attentive public or counter-mobilization from other interests.
Step-by-step explanation:
"Entrenched interests" seek to maintain the status quo by controlling a variety of factors in the political environment, such as public opinion, political culture, competition for access, and the relevance of the issue. While neopluralist scholars suggest that entrenched interests like businesses, the wealthy, and elites have a significant influence, they do not always succeed, particularly if the public is opposed to their interests. This is because when interests mobilize, opposing interests often counter-mobilize, reducing the advantages of some interests. For example, a prominent manufacturing firm may seek fewer regulations on environmental pollutants, but if environmental protection is a salient issue to the attentive public, the firm may not prevail despite its resource advantage.
Furthermore, governments around the world often control and limit competition in key industries, such as airlines, banks, steel companies, oil companies, and telephone companies; this control can be seen as a way to protect entrenched interests within those sectors. Lastly, negotiations on political issues can also be influenced by those who favor the status quo, benefiting from existing rules, thus making political change difficult to achieve.