Pluralist theory of sovereignty
Also called: Political pluralism · Topic: State, Government and Governance: Organs, Levels and the Citizen · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The pluralist theory of sovereignty says the state is not the only body that holds power and loyalty. Harold Laski, F.W. Maitland and J.N. Figgis developed it. They argued that churches, trade unions and other associations also command people's loyalty. So sovereignty is neither absolute nor held by the state alone. The theory arose as a reply to Austin's monistic theory.
Example
A worker obeys the state's laws but also follows the decisions of a trade union. A believer also follows the rules of a religious body. Pluralists say this shared loyalty shows that the state's power is limited. Exam questions on "pooled" sovereignty in an interdependent world build on this idea.
Don't confuse with
- Monistic theory of sovereignty: Austin (1832) said every state has one determinate sovereign whose power is absolute and cannot be divided. Pluralists say power is spread across many groups.