Theoretical perspective best explains the nature of government and politics in the United States

by | Apr 7, 2025 | Politics

Which theoretical perspective best explains the nature of government and politics in the United States

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Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

It’s challenging to definitively say that one single theoretical perspective best explains the complex nature of government and politics in the United States. Each major perspective offers valuable insights, highlighting different aspects of how power operates. However, the most comprehensive understanding often comes from considering elements of multiple theories.

Here’s a breakdown of some key theoretical perspectives and their relevance to the U.S.:

1. Pluralism:

  • Core Idea: Power is dispersed among many competing interest groups. No single group dominates, and policy outcomes are the result of bargaining and compromise among these groups.
  • Application to the U.S.: The U.S. certainly has a vast array of interest groups (economic, social, environmental, etc.) that actively lobby and advocate for their agendas. The decentralized nature of the American political system, with multiple access points at different levels of government, supports the idea that groups can influence policy.

It’s challenging to definitively say that one single theoretical perspective best explains the complex nature of government and politics in the United States. Each major perspective offers valuable insights, highlighting different aspects of how power operates. However, the most comprehensive understanding often comes from considering elements of multiple theories.

Here’s a breakdown of some key theoretical perspectives and their relevance to the U.S.:

1. Pluralism:

  • Core Idea: Power is dispersed among many competing interest groups. No single group dominates, and policy outcomes are the result of bargaining and compromise among these groups.
  • Application to the U.S.: The U.S. certainly has a vast array of interest groups (economic, social, environmental, etc.) that actively lobby and advocate for their agendas. The decentralized nature of the American political system, with multiple access points at different levels of government, supports the idea that groups can influence policy.
  • Limitations: Critics argue that not all groups have equal resources or access to power. Some groups (e.g., wealthy corporations) may have a disproportionate influence compared to others. This perspective may understate the role of systemic inequalities.

2. Elite Theory:

  • Core Idea: Power is concentrated in the hands of a small, wealthy, and privileged group (the “elite”) who share similar values and interests and largely control the political and economic agenda.
  • Application to the U.S.: There’s evidence to suggest that a relatively small number of individuals and families hold significant wealth and occupy key positions in corporations, government, and other influential institutions. Campaign finance laws, lobbying activities, and the revolving door between government and the private sector can be seen as supporting this perspective.
  • Limitations: This theory can sometimes oversimplify the complexities of policymaking and may not fully account for instances where popular movements or competing elites influence outcomes. It can also be difficult to definitively prove a unified “elite” always acts in concert.

3. Power Elite Theory (C. Wright Mills):

  • Core Idea: A specific variant of elite theory emphasizing the interconnectedness of the leaders in three dominant institutions: the military, big business, and the political directorate. These elites, according to Mills, share a worldview and tend to act in ways that maintain their power and privilege.
  • Application to the U.S.: The close relationships between these sectors, particularly concerning defense spending and corporate influence on policy, lend some support to this theory.
  • Limitations: Similar to general elite theory, it can be argued that this model overstates the unity and coordination among these elites and may not fully account for internal conflicts or external pressures.

4. Class Theory (Marxism and Neo-Marxism):

  • Core Idea: Society is fundamentally divided by class interests, primarily between the bourgeoisie (owners of capital) and the proletariat (workers). The state, in this view, ultimately serves the interests of the dominant capitalist class.
  • Application to the U.S.: Issues like income inequality, labor laws, and corporate influence on regulations can be analyzed through a class-based lens.
  • Limitations: While class is undoubtedly a significant factor, the U.S. has a more complex social structure than the traditional Marxist binary. Other factors like race, gender, and ideology also play crucial roles.

5. Bureaucratic Theory:

  • Core Idea: Power increasingly resides in the large, complex organizations (bureaucracies) that implement government policies. These unelected officials can have significant influence through their expertise and control over the day-to-day functioning of the state.
  • Application to the U.S.: The vast federal bureaucracy, with its specialized agencies and career civil servants, undeniably plays a crucial role in shaping and executing policy.
  • Limitations: While bureaucracies are powerful, they are theoretically accountable to elected officials. The extent of their independent power is a subject of ongoing debate.

Conclusion:

Ultimately, no single theory provides a perfect or complete explanation of American government and politics. A nuanced understanding requires drawing insights from multiple perspectives.

  • Pluralism helps explain the role of diverse interest groups and the process of negotiation.
  • Elite Theory and Power Elite Theory highlight the potential for concentrated power and influence by a small minority.
  • Class Theory reminds us of the enduring impact of economic inequalities.
  • Bureaucratic Theory emphasizes the significant role of unelected officials in the policy process.

Many scholars argue that the U.S. political system exhibits characteristics of both pluralism and elitism. While various groups can and do exert influence, certain powerful elites and interests often have a disproportionate impact. Therefore, a hybrid perspective that acknowledges the interplay between competing groups and the underlying influence of certain elites likely offers the most accurate and comprehensive understanding of the nature of government and politics in the United States.

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