Neopluralism The Evolution of Political Process Theory Andrew S. McFarland April 2004 208 pages, 6 x 9 Studies in Government and Public Policy Cloth ISBN 978-0-7006-1309-0, $35.00 Paper ISBN 978-0-7006-1310-6, $16.95 Many of the basic issues of political science have been addressed by pluralist theory, which focuses on the competing interests of a democratic polity, their organization, and their influence on policy. Popular in the 1960s, pluralism gradually lost favor and nearly became obsolete when political scientists began to challenge its fundamental assumptions. Andrew McFarland shows, however, that this approach still provides a promising foundation for understanding the American political process. Neopluralism draws on pluralism’s foundational logic to synthesize its various strands into a single paradigm that addresses three key, interrelated questions: Who has power? How is policy made? What do interest groups do? McFarland reexamines the major concepts and findings of the most influential advocates of pluralism from the 1950s and 1960s, then traces developments in American political science which have either contested or built upon these concepts. Demonstrating that the work underlying the original pluralist paradigm has been improved upon by subsequent generations of scholars, he proposes an original synthesis that combines elements of classical pluralist theory with more recent theoretical developments, including work on social movements, political development, and corporatism. By demonstrating the degree to which much recent scholarship shares an unstated allegiance to the process theory of politics, McFarland shows how new studies can be designed that can contribute to this theoretical perspective. He also suggests how process theory continues to develop and is likely to expand into the fields of comparative politics, international relations, and social movement studies. Summarizing fifty years of research on political power, public policymaking, and interest groups, Neopluralism offers a fresh overview of current thinking in political science. Because it makes a strong case for revisiting an abandoned paradigm, it is essential reading for all scholars who wish to solidify their understanding of interest group behavior, public policy, and American politics in general. “An invaluable and enduring intellectual history of the political science discipline during the last half of the twentieth century.”--Jeffrey M. Berry, author of The New Liberalism “Like no one else, McFarland impressively synthesizes a vast literature to make a compelling argument. . . . A substantial contribution to the literature on interest groups, public policy, and American politics in general.”--Frank R. Baumgartner, coauthor of Basic Interests “McFarland’s book is unmatched in its breadth of scholarship, its impressive integration of fields, and its thoroughgoing analysis.”--Bryan D. Jones, author of Politics and the Architecture of Choice “A truly important book.”--John W. Kingdon, author of Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies ANDREW S. McFARLAND is professor of political science at the University of Illinois at Chicago. His other books include Cooperative Pluralism: The National Coal Policy Experiment, also published by Kansas, and Social Movements and American Political Institutions, coedited with Anne N. Costain. Home | About the Press | Recent Awards | Contact Us | Order New Books: | By Author | By Subject | By Title | By Series Books in Print: | By Author | By Subject | By Title | By Series ©2007 University Press of Kansas 2502 Westbrooke Circle, Lawrence, KS 66045-4444 Phone (785) 864-4155; Fax (785) 864-4586