# XXIX: Political Pluralism and Sovereignty explained — The New State

> Chapter companion for The New State by Mary Parker Follett.

## What happens

This chapter explores the nature of sovereignty through the lens of group psychology, arguing that genuine sovereignty emerges from the interpenetration of individuals and groups rather than from external imposition or abstract legal theory. The author critiques political pluralists for denying the possibility of a collective will and for stopping at isolated group autonomy, while also rejecting static monism. Instead, a dynamic, unifying process is proposed where sovereignty is continuously generated from the many to the one, from local groups to the state, as a psychological and social fact.

## Themes in this chapter

### Critique of Individualism and Particularism

The author critiques pluralists for isolating groups and ignoring the unifying force that leads to larger wholes, emphasizing the dynamic interplay of the one and the many.

### The Unifying State vs. Political Pluralism

The chapter contrasts static pluralism with a unifying state that emerges from the bottom-up through group interpenetration, rejecting both absolute monism and fragmented pluralism.

### Group Process as the Foundation of True Democracy

Sovereignty is redefined as a product of group psychology and the true social process, where genuine authority and democracy arise from collective will and interdependence.

## Character check-ins

### Narrator

The narrator articulates the theory of sovereignty as a psychological process emerging from group life, critiquing both pluralists and monists.

### We the People

Referenced as the collective from which genuine sovereignty and authority evolve through group interpenetration.

### Léon Duguit

His theory of 'le droit' based on social solidarity is discussed and critiqued for denying the reality of a collective will.

### Harold Laski

Implied as a pluralist whose views are addressed, particularly regarding the autonomy of groups and the rejection of the unified state.

## Key lines

> Sovereignty is the power engendered by a complete interdependence becoming conscious of itself.

Sovereignty arises when people recognize their deep mutual dependence and act on that awareness collectively.

_Defines sovereignty as a conscious, relational process rather than a top-down imposition._

> The essential error in the theory of distributed sovereignty is that each group has an isolated sovereignty. The truth is that each should represent the whole united sovereignty at one point as each individual is his whole group at one point.

The mistake of pluralists is treating each group as having separate sovereignty; in reality, each group embodies the entire sovereignty from its own perspective, just as an individual represents the whole group.

_Critique of pluralist fragmentation, advocating for integrated sovereignty._

> We do not want the unified sovereignty of Germany; but when you put the individual and the group first, you get unifying sovereignty.

We reject the top-down, imposed unity of a monolithic state, but by prioritizing individuals and groups, we achieve a dynamic, unifying sovereignty.

_Distinguishes between static monism and a living, emergent unity._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_new_state_se/chapters/xxix-political-pluralism-and-sovereignty
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_new_state_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_new_state_se/chapters