Pluralistic model of lobbying: critical reflection

Abstract

This article focuses on the study of the pluralistic model of lobbying using the example of the United States of America. The relevance of this issue is can be explained by the fact that Russia has largely found itself on the sidelines of an important dispute between supporters of pluralism and corporatism as two models of lobbying and, more broadly, representation of public interests. This discussion is important from the point of view of understanding which system of interest representation best suits Russia’s national, cultural and political specifics, and how to approach the issue of lobbying institutionalization. For a long time, Russian experts and politicians considered lobbying exclusively in a pluralistic key, taking the American experience of its institutionalization and regulation as a starting point. However, the question of the extent to which the American experience is applicable to Russia remains open. Therefore, it is necessary to examine in detail the pros and cons of these models. This article opens a series of articles by the author on the nature of pluralism and corporatism in modern realities and is devoted to the pluralistic model. The author attempts to analyze its dynamics and current state using the example of the United States of America. The analysis of this example is important not only for identifying general patterns inherent in the development of the lobbying phenomenon in pluralistic systems, but also for showing how much the lobbying phenomenon depends on the political and institutional environment, cultural and social norms. The author concludes that the development of lobbying in the United States faces major problems, such as the increasing gap between the ability of interest groups to influence the political process, as well as the primacy of private (special) interests over public ones.