Pluralism Analysis in Why Nations Fail

Pluralist political systems are those that distribute power broadly and represent the interests of diverse groups of people. Pluralism is necessary when it comes to establishing inclusive institutions.

Pluralism Quotes in Why Nations Fail

The Why Nations Fail quotes below are all either spoken by Pluralism or refer to Pluralism. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Global Inequality and Economic Growth Theme Icon

England was unique among nations when it made the breakthrough to sustained economic growth in the seventeenth century. Major economic changes were preceded by a political revolution that brought a distinct set of economic and political institutions, much more inclusive than those of any previous society. […] The Glorious Revolution limited the power of the king and the executive, and relocated to Parliament the power to determine economic institutions. At the same time, it opened up the political system to a broad cross section of society, who were able to exert considerable influence over the way the state functioned. The Glorious Revolution was the foundation for creating a pluralistic society, and it built on and accelerated a process of political centralization. It created the world’s first set of inclusive political institutions.

Related Characters: Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson (speaker)

Explanation and Analysis:

The process of political centralization can actually lead to a form of absolutism, as the king and his associates can crush other powerful groups in society. This is indeed one of the reasons why there will be opposition against state centralization, as we saw in chapter 3. However, in opposition to this force, the centralization of state institutions can also mobilize demand for a nascent form of pluralism, as it did in Tudor England. When the barons and local elites recognize that political power will be increasingly more centralized and that this process is hard to stop, they will make demands to have a say in how this centralized power is used. […] The Tudor project not only initiated political centralization, one pillar of inclusive institutions, but also indirectly contributed to pluralism, the other pillar of inclusive institutions.

Related Characters: Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 186-187

Explanation and Analysis:

The rule of law is not imaginable under absolutist political institutions. It is a creation of pluralist political institutions and of the broad coalitions that support such pluralism. It’s only when many individuals and groups have a say in decisions, and the political power to have a seat at the table, that the idea that they should all be treated fairly starts making sense. By the early eighteenth century, Britain was becoming sufficiently pluralistic, and the Whig elites would discover that, as enshrined in the notion of the rule of law, laws and institutions would constrain them, too.

Related Characters: Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson (speaker), The Whig Party

Page Number and Citation: 306

Explanation and Analysis:

What is common among the political revolutions that successfully paved the way for more inclusive institutions and the gradual institutional changes in North America, in England in the nineteenth century, and in Botswana after independence—which also led to significant strengthening of inclusive political institutions—is that they succeeded in empowering a fairly broad cross-section of society. Pluralism, the cornerstone of inclusive political institutions, requires political power to be widely held in society, and starting from extractive institutions that vest power in a narrow elite, this requires a process of empowerment. This, as we emphasized in chapter 7, is what sets apart the Glorious Revolution from the overthrow of one elite by another.

Related Characters: Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 458

Explanation and Analysis:

Pluralism Term Timeline in Why Nations Fail

The timeline below shows where the term Pluralism appears in Why Nations Fail. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

In contrast, societies with pluralistic political institutions—which distribute power more broadly and put constraints on its exercise—tend to have inclusive... (full context)

Elites also block inclusive political institutions. They generally oppose pluralism, which promises to decrease their power. Thus, they only create pluralistic institutions when the masses... (full context)

...development still persist. English settler colonies (like the US, Canada, and Australia) tended to develop pluralistic political institutions similar to England’s and quickly join in the Industrial Revolution. In countries like... (full context)

...to rise. Because of these precedents, when feudalism collapsed in Europe, society became much more pluralistic and inclusive. (full context)

...Conflict,” Acemoglu and Robinson note that early conflicts over resources and power pushed England toward pluralism. The Magna Carta, a famous agreement between the king and the aristocracy in 1215, established... (full context)

...absolutism if leaders manage to keep all the power, but it can also lead to pluralism if other parties insist on getting representation and power in the state. This is what... (full context)

Although it was somewhat pluralistic, the English state was still highly extractive. For instance, nearly every industry was monopolized. Angry... (full context)

...him wanted to create an absolutist state, while the Parliamentarians and their supporters wanted more pluralistic institutions. The Parliamentarians won and their leader, Oliver Cromwell, took power as a dictator. After... (full context)

The Glorious Revolution was possible because of a longstanding conflict between absolutists and pluralists—who wanted to transform institutions, not just take them over. Due to small institutional differences in... (full context)

...since many different groups banded together to fight the monarchy, once they won, they created pluralist institutions that represented all of them. Without this broad coalition, England would have never become... (full context)

Because of its collective decision-making practices, Somalia was historically pluralistic, but its institutions weren’t inclusive because there was no centralized state to impose order or... (full context)

...unthinkable: the king and aristocracy would never follow the same rules as everyone else. Only pluralist institutions made this possible: when many different groups share power, they have good reason to... (full context)

...why inclusive institutions tend to survive over time: most groups can’t participate in politics without pluralism and the rule of law, so few are willing to threaten them. Moreover, as institutions... (full context)

...still couldn’t vote. But “the virtuous circle of inclusive institutions” made it more and more pluralistic over time. In the early 19th century, workers rioted against industrialization, and elites decided to... (full context)

...throughout British colonies. Elites knew that choosing repression would mean abandoning the rule of law, pluralism, and inclusive economic institutions. They also knew that repression would probably fail, because inclusive institutions... (full context)

...Vicious Circles.” Inclusive institutions tend to become more inclusive over time, in a virtuous circle. Pluralism checks abuses of power and creates inclusive economic institutions, which spread wealth and power more... (full context)

...institutions. But revolutions in Ethiopia and Sierra Leone were led by narrow factions uninterested in pluralism. (full context)

...Latin American countries, in reality, its institutions are very similar: they are democratic, but not pluralistic or inclusive. Centuries of extractive institutions have encouraged voters to choose more extreme candidates (even... (full context)

...coordinate and petition the British government because Tswana states have a history of centralized and pluralistic institutions. For instance, in many Tswana states, a tribal assembly of adult men can disagree... (full context)

At the critical juncture of its independence, Botswana harnessed its history of centralization and pluralism. A broad coalition of chiefs and elites worked together to build the political system. The... (full context)

...innovation, and making the economy fairer. Inclusive political institutions reinforce these inclusive economic institutions through pluralism and state centralization. (full context)

As China’s economy has grown, its political institutions have actually become less inclusive, pluralistic, and democratic. For instance, the government closely controls the Internet and represses dissent. China’s growth... (full context)

...Robinson admit that there’s no formula for empowering citizens or creating inclusive institutions. Centralization, existing pluralistic institutions, and community organizations can all help empower people. In particular, the media can help... (full context)

Pluralism Term Analysis

Pluralism Quotes in Why Nations Fail

Pluralism Term Timeline in Why Nations Fail