From Interest Group Liberalism to Asymmetric Politics: A Meta-analysis

• In Event: New Perspectives on Parties and Partisanship

Abstract

This paper summarizes and synthesizes the literature that demonstrates a tectonic shift from pluralist to asymmetric politics in the United States. It contrasts this 21st century literature on politics and public policymaking with the 20th century literature on interest group liberalism, a term coin by Theodore Lowi and often used synonymously with pluralism. It outlines the transition from pluralist to asymmetric politics and public policymaking.
In contrasting pluralist with asymmetric politics, this paper focuses on changes in patterns of political power, campaign finance law, public philosophy, political party alignment, and the media. The preponderance of the literature indicates that patterns of political power have shifted from a poly-centric and fluid pattern to one of concentrated business and corporate interests in multiple policy areas. Policymaking is now dominated by corporate sponsored policymaking machines like the American Legislative Exchange Council. Campaign finance laws have been eviscerated, thus amplifying the voices of multi-billionaire and corporate interests. The dominant public philosophy that once characterized government as the mediator of competing political interests and the protector the poor and vulnerable is now challenged by a world view that defines government as the problem and advocates less government, tax cuts and deregulation as the solutions. The localized and regionally base 20th century political party system--that once engaged in bargaining and compromise and that maximized its constituency by appealing to centrists and a range of political interests--has changed into the 21st century two party system with a disjointed, disorganized, and disparate interest group based Democratic Party pitted against a well-disciplined and ideologically conservative Republican Party. Both political parties have abandoned organized labor. A media system that once provided the nightly news to the nation as a public service with a commitment to journalistic excellence and fair and balanced reporting has given way to a polarizing media system with a right-wing media ecosystem that spews misinformation, lies and conspiracy theories that exploit disaffected citizens and enhance the influence of the Republican Party. Moreover, the ability of the Council for National Policy to forge an alliance between money interests--multibillionaire/corporate interests—and ordinarily grassroots interests--conservative evangelical, Tea Party, and gun rights--has enabled the formation of a political power block unimaginable in the 20th century. The ascension of this power block, the formation of an ideologically conservative Republican Party, the rise of a right-wing media ecosystem, and the establishment of corporate dominated policymaking machines have contributed to asymmetric politics and policymaking. This asymmetric politics substantially weakens and distorts grassroots movement like the environmental and Black Lives Matters movements and cripples efforts to respond to real national crises like access to healthcare, escalating healthcare costs, and the covid19 pandemic.

Author

• Carter A. Wilson, Northern Michigan University