 |
International Online Training Program On Intractable Conflict |
Conflict Research Consortium, University of Colorado, USA |
|
International Online Training Program On Intractable Conflict |
Conflict Research Consortium, University of Colorado, USA |
Opening Page | Glossary | Menu Shortcut Page
Although democratic decision making processes are better than autocratic or dictatorial processes, they still tend to favor vested interests in many cases. This occurs because people who are most concerned about a decision tend to be those who are most involved, and who are willing to spend the time and money necessary to influence the decision making procedure. For example, industries which are affected by government regulations spend a great deal of time and money trying to influence Congressional decision makers, hoping that those congressmen will enact a bill which is consistent with industry interests. Often this will involve reductions of regulations on the industry-reductions of pollution regulations, employment regulations, or export regulations. Individual citizens may be opposed to such changes--especially to the changes regarding pollution or employment matters--but the issue is not nearly as important to them as it is to the industry, nor do they have the time or the money to become involved in every decision which affects them. So they do not speak out, and the vested interests prevails in the decision making process.
Copyright ©1998 Conflict Research Consortium -- Contact: crc@colorado.edu