Compare and contrast pluralist, elitist, Marxist and New Right views of how liberal democracies function. Which, if any, is most useful for understanding British democracy?

Liberal democracies are a common system of government throughout the civilised world.  Despite their frequency, however, it is difficult to strictly define them into one category.  This is why different theorists come up with different suppositions with regard to how they function and evolve.  Most of these theories are in some way helpful to understanding the functioning of liberal democracies, with particular reference to the British system.

It may be useful to first define what is meant by liberal democracy.  According to Hague et al, liberal democracies limit government and protect individual rights….(short extract)