Intressit, yhdistyslaitos ja poliittisen järjestelmän vakaisuus

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the adequacy of two competing theoretical approaches to the relationship between voluntary associations and the stability of the political system. These approaches are the sociological paradigm of pluralism and the incorporation paradigm of interests. The research starts by dividing the sociological paradigm of pluralism into three parts: (1) the theory of interests and interest formation, (2) the sociology of voluntary associations and (3) the question of the role of voluntary associations in maintaining the stability of the political system. These problems are examined first within the framework of the sociological paradigm of pluralism, secondly within its rival, the incorporation paradigm, and thirdly on the basis of sociological theoretization of social classes and civil society. These three elements are synthezed within a theory of hegemony. The study results in a synthesis, which combines the adequate parts of the sociological paradigm of pluralism and the incorporation paradigm on the basis of sociological class theory. The principal contribution of the paradigm of pluralism is the conception of dispersion and cross cutting of interests and interest associations as necessary preconditions for the reproduction of the stability of the political system. The incorporation paradigm for its part stresses the importance of the system integration of those interests and associations that are able to conflict. These two competing approaches can be seen as complementary aspects in the conception of political stability based on the theory of hegemony. In the hegemonic system dispersion and cross cutting of (class) interests can be seen as a precondition for the incorporation of opposing (class) interests. The corporatist system of hegemony is both an active integrator of opposing interests and an effective agent in the struggle about interests, and a source of a new dispersion of interests.