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Interest Groups

Interest groups are organizations that represent shared policy goals and try to influence the policy process. There are several theories about how interest groups operate in politics, including pluralism, which sees many competing groups balancing each other out, and elitism, which argues powerful corporate elites dominate. Small, well-funded, intense single-issue groups tend to be most successful. Interest groups try to shape policy through lobbying, election contributions, litigation, and public outreach. They represent a variety of economic, social, and ideological interests. While they promote participation, some argue they can distort democracy or expand the scope of government.

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429 views

Interest Groups

Interest groups are organizations that represent shared policy goals and try to influence the policy process. There are several theories about how interest groups operate in politics, including pluralism, which sees many competing groups balancing each other out, and elitism, which argues powerful corporate elites dominate. Small, well-funded, intense single-issue groups tend to be most successful. Interest groups try to shape policy through lobbying, election contributions, litigation, and public outreach. They represent a variety of economic, social, and ideological interests. While they promote participation, some argue they can distort democracy or expand the scope of government.

Uploaded by

nikkiv
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Interest Groups

The Role and Reputation of Interest Groups

Defining Interest Groups


 An organization of people with shared policy goals entering the
policy process at several points to try to achieve those goals.
Interest groups pursue their goals in many arenas.
 Political Parties fight election battles, Interest Groups don’t -
but they may choose sides.
 Interest Groups are policy specialists, Political Parties are
policy generalists.
Theories of Interest Group Politics

Pluralist Theory

Elite Theory

Hyperpluralist Theory

Click on name to go to that slide.


Theories of Interest Group Politics - Pluralism

Definition:
 Politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one
pressing for its own preferred policies.
 Many centers of power and many diverse, competing groups.
 No group wins or loses all the time.
 Groups provide the key link between the people and the
government.
Theories of Interest Group Politics - Pluralism

Continued
 Groups provide a key link between people and government.
 Groups compete.
 No one group is likely to become too dominant.
 Groups usually play by the “rules of the game.”
 Groups weak in one resource can use another.
Theories of Interest Group Politics - Elitism

Definition:
 Societies are divided along class lines and an upper-class elite
rules, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental
organization.
 Numerous groups mean nothing, power is not equally divided
among them - some have much more.
 The largest corporations hold the most power.
Theories of Interest Group Politics - Elitism

Continued
 Elite power is strengthened by a system of interlocking
directorates of these corporations and other institutions.
 Corporate elites are willing to lose the minor policy battles, but
work to win the major policy issues in their favor.
 Lobbying is a problem because it benefits the few at the
expense of the many.
Theories of Interest Group[ Politics -
Elitism
 Perceptions of the Dominance of Big Interests
Theories of Interest Group Politics -
Hyperpluralism

Definition:
 Groups are so strong that government is weakened. Extreme,
exaggerated form of pluralism.
 Subgovernments consist of a network of groups that exercise a
great deal of control over specific policy areas.
 Interest groups have become too powerful as the government
tries to serve every interest.
Theories of Interest Group Politics -
Hyperpluralism

Continued
 The many subgovernments (iron triangles) aggravate the
process.
 When the government tries to please all the groups, the
policies become confusing and contradictory.
 With more interest groups getting involved, these
subgovernments may be dissolving.
What Makes an Interest Group
Successful?
What Makes an Interest Group
Successful?

The Surprising Ineffectiveness of Large Groups


 Potential group: All the people who might be interest group
members because they share a common interest.
 Actual group: The part of the potential group consisting of
members who actually join.
 Collective good: Something of value that cannot be withheld
from a group member
What Makes an Interest Group Successful?

 Free-Rider problem: Some people don’t join interest groups


because they benefit from the group’s activities without
officially joining.
 The bigger the group, the larger the free-rider problem.
(Olson’s law of large groups)
 Large groups are difficult to keep organized.
What Makes an Interest Group Successful?

 Small groups are better organized and more focused on the


group’s goals.
 Consumer groups have a difficult time getting significant
policy gains - the benefits are spread over the entire
population.
 Groups that can provide selective benefits can overcome this
problem.
What Makes an Interest Group Successful?

Intensity
 Single-Issue groups: Groups that focus on a narrow interest
and dislike compromise.
 Groups may focus on an emotional issue, providing them with
a psychological advantage.
 May be more likely to use protests and other means of political
participation than traditional interest groups that use
lobbyists.
What Makes an Interest Group Successful?

Financial Resources
 Not all groups have equal amounts of money.
 Monetary donations usually translate into access to the
politicians - a phone call, a meeting, etc.
 There is a bias towards the wealthier groups.
 The wealthier groups don’t always win in the policy arena.
The Interest Group Explosion

Figure 11.3
How Groups Try to Shape Policy

Lobbying
 “communication by someone other than a citizen acting on his
own behalf, directed to a governmental decisionmaker with the
hope of influencing his decision.” (Lester Milbrath)
 Two basic types: Those that are employed by a group, and
those that are hired temporarily.
How Groups Try to Shape Policy

 Lobbyists are a source of information.


 Lobbyists can help politicians plan political strategies for
legislation.
 Lobbyists can help politicians plan political strategies for
reelection campaigns.
 Lobbyists can provide ideas and innovations that can be turned
into policies that the politician can take credit for.
How Groups Try to Shape Policy

Electioneering
 Direct group involvement in the election process.
 Political Action Committee (PAC): Used by interest groups to
donate money to candidates.
 PACs help pay the bill for increasing campaign costs.
 Most PAC money goes to incumbents.
How Groups Try to Shape Policy

Litigation
 If an interest group fails in one arena, the courts may be able to
provide a remedy.
 Interest groups can file amicus curiae briefs in court cases to
support their position.
 Class Action lawsuits permit small groups of people to try and
correct a situation on behalf of a much larger group.
How Groups Try to Shape Policy

Going Public
 Groups try and cultivate a good public image.
 Groups use marketing strategies to influence public opinion of
the group and its issues.
 Groups will purchase advertising to motivate the public about
an issue.
Types of Interest Groups

Economic Interests
 Labor
 Agriculture
 Business
Environmental Interests
Equality Interests
Consumer and Public Interest Lobbies
Understanding Interest Groups

Interest Groups and Democracy


 James Madison’s solution to the problems posed by interest
groups was to create a wide-open system in which groups
compete.
 Elite theorists point to the proliferation of business PACs as
evidence of interest group corruption.
 Hyperpluralists maintain that group influence has led to policy
gridlock.
Understanding Interest Groups

Interest Groups and the Scope of Government


 Interest groups seek to maintain policies and programs that
benefit them.
 Interest groups continue to pressure government to do more
things.
 But as the government does more things, does that cause the
formation of more groups?

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