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In order to put this debate into perspective one has to take into account that the concept of democracy is complex and that there are many views of what true democracy is and how it should function. As suggested above, the pluralist notion of democracy is different in many respects to the more formal or 'elitist' views of democracy. One's assessments of pressure groups will therefore depend to a great extent on one's concept and understanding of democracy.
On the one hand the pluralistic view that pressure groups expand involvement in the democratic process and bring important issues to the attention of both the public and the state is a view that many pundits tend to accept. But there are many other arguments against these groups; such as the view that they can in fact undermine the democratic political process and be used by individuals or social and political entities with vested interests, which are not necessarily to the advantage of the society as a whole.
In the final analysis democracy is not a rigid and closed system but is rather one that is dynamic and interactive. In this sense one has to possibly accept the existence of interest and pressure groups as part of the dynamic democratic process. At the same time one also has to cognizant of the counter arguments to these groups that have been suggested above. Interest groups can also be used for self-interest and as a way of influencing the political process that can be detrimental to the ideal of representational democracy in...
They can also be a dynamic and vital addition to the democratic process.
References
Do pressure groups add to democracy?, viewed 8 August, 2010,
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/do_pressure_groups_add_to_democr.htm
Bhandari J. 2003, Democracy of pressure groups, viewed 8 August, 2010,
http://www.jayantbhandari.com/democracy_of_pressure_groups.pdf
< http://ivythesis.typepad.com/term_paper_topics/2008/05/do-pressure-gro.html>.
Pluralism, viewed 8 August,< http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/pluralism.htm>.
http://australianpolitics.com/pg/impact/
2010,< http://www.oup.com/uk/orc/bin/9780199269792/kavanagh_chap21.pdf>.
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