Pluralism is a political and sociological theory that recognizes the various types of organizations within a state, such as religious, political, and social groups. It originated in the late 19th century through the work of German jurist Otto Von Gierke and was further developed by English legal historian F.W. Maitland. Pluralism asserts that groups in society arise independently and acquire authority not granted by the state. It also maintains that the state is just one of many groups that people use to satisfy their needs and that power should be decentralized away from the state.

1. PLURALISM
COMPARISON AND CONTRIBUTION

2. INTRODUCTION
• This theory was developed by German jurist Otto Von Gierke.
• It originated in the last quarter of the 19th century.
• It has been developed by the English legal historian F.W.
Maitland.
• The advocates of pluralism are Harold J. Laski, Ernst Barker,
G.D.H. Cole, R.M. MacIver, Sidney and Leon Duguit.
• The beginning of pluralism can be traced from the time of guild
system of the Middle Ages.

3. DEVELOPMENTS IN SOCIETY THAT
LED TO PLURALISM
• Distinction was made between spheres of law and
morality.
• There was definite change in the function of the state.
• Growth of associations.
• Emergence of state as an association.
• Change in the pattern of Social existence and
allegiance.
• Need for international co-operation.

4. MEANING OF PLURALISM
• Pluralism is a political sociological theory of society.
• It recognizes various types of organizations present in
the state like religious, political, social etc.
• Pluralism refers to “ a state of affairs in which a
multiplicity of groups or institutions are operative
within society.

5. PRINCIPLES OF PLURALISM
• The state is one of the various grouping through which
men seek to satisfy its numerous needs.
• Different groups in society are not creations of the
state but they arise independently and acquire power &
authority not given by state.
• Various associations such as churches and trade unions
are important in a state.

6. PRINCIPLES OF PLURALISM (CONT.)
• The monistic state is not only incapable of wielding
absolute authority over such bodies but is also
incapable of regulating their affairs intelligently or
administering them efficiently.
• Pluralism stands for decentralization of government
authority.

7. MERITS OF PLURALISM
• It shows the importance of social organizations in a
state.
• It not only includes government and law but also social
relation between men and multi-sided human beings.
• It shows that the interest of state is not always identical
with interest of its parts.
• It stresses the need of decentralization of power.

8. CRITICISM
• Pluralists oppose sovereignty of state, but if there is no
sovereignty, anarchy will prevail.
• Sovereignty can’t be divided among various
associations.
• This lacks clarity. It is ambiguous and contradictory.

9. CONCLUSION
Pluralism is the view that politics and decision making
are located mostly in the framework of government, but
that many non-governmental groups use their resources to
exert influence. The central question for classical
pluralism is how power and influence are distributed in a
political process. Groups of individuals try to maximize
their interests. Lines of conflict are multiple and shifting
as power is a continuous bargaining process between
competing groups. There may be inequalities but they
tend to be distributed and evened out by the various forms
and distributions of resources throughout a population.

10. REFERENCES
• O.P. Gauba, AN INTRODUCTION TO POLTICAL THEORY
• S.R. Myneni, POLITICAL SCIENCE
• S.P. Varma, MODERN POLITICAL THEORY
• V.D. Mahajan, POLITICAL THEORY