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Created page with 'File:lighterstill.jpgright|frame *Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_Century 14th century] ==Definitions== *1 a : the state of being plural :b...'
[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Pluralism.jpg|right|frame]]

*Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_Century 14th century]
==Definitions==
*1 a : the state of being plural
:b : the state of being numerous
:c : a large [[number]] or [[quantity]]
*2 : pluralism 1; also : a benefice held by pluralism
*3 a : a number greater than another
:b : an excess of votes over those cast for an [[opposing]] [[candidate]]
:c : a number of votes cast for a [[candidate]] in a contest of more than two candidates that is greater than the number cast for any other candidate but not more than half the total votes cast
==Description==
'''Pluralism''' is, in the general sense, the acknowledgment of [[diversity]]. The [[concept]] is used, often in [[different]] ways, in a wide range of issues. In [[politics]], pluralism is often considered by proponents of modern [[democracy]] to be in the interests of its [[citizens]], and so political pluralism is one of its most important features.

The term pluralism is also used to denote a [[theoretical]] standpoint on [[state]] and [[power]] - which to varying [[degrees]] suggest that pluralism is an adequate [[model]] of how [[power]] is [[distributed]] in [[societies]]. (For information on the political theory of pluralism see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluralism_(political_theory) Pluralism (political theory]).

In democratic [[politics]], pluralism is a guiding principle which permits the [[peaceful]] coexistence of [[different]] interests, [[convictions]] and lifestyles. In this [[context]] it has [[normative]] connotations absent from its use to denote a [[theoretical]] standpoint. Unlike [[totalitarianism]] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_particularism particularism], pluralism acknowledges the [[diversity]] of interests and considers it [[imperative]] that members of [[society]] accommodate their [[differences]] by engaging in good-faith negotiation.

One of the earliest [[arguments]] for pluralism came from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Madison James Madison] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Federalist_Papers The Federalist Papers 10.]. Madison feared that factionalism would lead to in-fighting in the new American republic and [[devote]]s this paper to questioning how best to avoid such an occurrence. He posits that to avoid factionalism, it is best to allow many [[competing]] factions to prevent any one [[Dominate|dominating]] the political system. This relies, to a [[degree]], on a series of disturbances changing the [[influences]] of [[groups]] so as to avoid [[institution]]al [[dominance]] and ensure [[competition]].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluralism_%28political_philosophy%29]

[[Category: Political Science]]

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