Question

Which of the following statements would NOT be accepted by supporters of the pluralist view of interest groups?

a. People's separate interests are a legitimate basis of public policy.
b. The idea of the public interest or the collective interest does not have much meaning in cases where the public is sharply divided in its policy opinions.
c. The opinion of the majority should always prevail in a policy dispute over the opinion of a more intense and directly affected minority.
d. Most interests benefit from the workings of the group system, which is a reason to support a policy process that is responsive to groups.
e. Public policy should represent the diversity that exists in society.

Answer 1

The statement not aligned with pluralist views is that the majority opinion should always prevail over minority interests, as pluralists believe in the importance of all groups, majority and minority, having influence in policy debates.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that would NOT be accepted by supporters of the pluralist view of interest groups is: c. The opinion of the majority should always prevail in a policy dispute over the opinion of a more intense and directly affected minority.

According to pluralist theory, a healthy democracy is one that allows for the competition of various interest groups, representing a multitude of views, which in turn influences public policy. The theory, supported by scholars like David Truman and Robert Dahl, suggests that this diversity is necessary for democratic governance and that every group, whether representing a majority or a minority, has the potential to make its voice heard. Furthermore, Dahl believes that politicians seek to balance these competing interests as a way of securing electoral success.

Proponents of pluralism would disagree with statement "c" as it contradicts the idea that minority groups, who may be more directly and intensely affected by policy outcomes, should also have influence in policy debates, even if they are not the majority. The pluralist perspective maintains that public policy should reflect the diversity in society and that there's inherent value in a system that is responsive to a wide range of groups.