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POL 310 |
Political Parties | ||||||||||||||||
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Interest Groups Another term to explore, a different set of actors in the interest articulation process, are interest groups. While interest groups exist in very society, they are particularly important for understanding political behavior in the US. Definition: From David Truman in The Governmental Process: "An interest group is any group that is based on one or more shared attitudes and makes certain claims upon other groups or organizations in society". From: The American Political Dictionary: "An organized group in which members share common views and objectives and actively carry on programs to influence government officials and policies. Unlike political parties, which seek to win control of and operate the government, interest groups are mainly interested in influencing the determination of public policies that directly or indirectly affect their members".
Interest groups are at the heart of plural theory. While we are diminishing their role in our study of interest articulation, we still need to know a little bit about them!
Interest groups are at the heart of the plural political system. They are
the vehicles through which individual interests are articulated
and through bargaining, accommodation and
compromise (ie., group
competition) individual rights are
protected. The History of Interest Group Formation in the US James Q. Wilson argues that interest groups in America formed predominantly at three specific times in American history. (Truman called this "the wave theory" of interest groups"). !830- 1860 National interest groups (YMCA, the Grange, Elks, abolitionist movements) 1880s Economic interest groups emerge as industrialization takes hold (AFL, Knights of Labor) as well as the Red Cross and several "helping groups. 1900-1920 Greatest expansion of many types of interest groups: Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers, AMA, NAACP, American Cancer Society, Urban League, American Farm Bureau, American Jewish Committee 1960- late 1970s After Wilson's analysis many argue a fourth wave occurred during the 60s and 70s. Cause-oriented groups and economic groups expanded. The former, due to the social activism of the civil rights and anti-war movements, the later related to increased governmental programs and the expansion of the government into the economic and social sphere.
Types of Interest Groups 1) economic primarily concerned with their own economic self-interest (ie., material incentive) most powerful and most successful 2) ideological primarily motivated by the psychic (ideological) incentive least successful 3) economic/ideological also known as professional interest groups have an economic motivation but also have a professional ethos strong and successful, especially in their area of expertise 4) minority represent the interests of particular ethnic/racial groups primarily economic interests generally not very successful 5) formal government organizations governmental organizations represent the economic interests of their members also generally have a professional ethos/ ideology which motivates them very successful
2) unity 3) intensity 4) prestige 5) skilled leadership 6) money (the convertible resource)
Conditions that Increase Interest Group Strength
2) lack of public attentiveness 3) institutional setting in which decision is made
Types of Interest Group Influence
2) in the legislature lobbying 3) in the court system amicus curiae briefs 4) in the bureaucracy
Schattschneider's Party Theory The Difference Between Interest Groups and Political Parties
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