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Interest Groups

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Read: D & Z9

1)  theoretically

"What do the theories say about interest groups?"

2)  empirically

"What have social scientists discovered about interest groups?

What can we discover about interest groups?"

3) comparatively

"What part do interest groups play in other countries?"

Theoretically

elite theory

Interest groups are just another part of the elite political system.

They are dominated by elites and thus reflect elite interests and elite values.

plural theory

 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.

democratic theory

Interest groups are not found within the context of participatory democratic theory but are part of the nature of representative democracy.
 

Empirically

What evidence can be examined to test the competing theories?

possible evidence to explore:

1) what are the types of interest groups?

2)  what are the sources of interest groups' power?

3) what are the characteristics of interest group leaders?

4)  what are the generic values of interest group actors?

5)  where are decisions made?

 6) whose values do decisions reflect?  

   Types of Interest Groups

1)  economic

primarily concerned with their own economic self-interest (ie., material incentive)

most powerful and most successful

exs.:    labor and business groups  

2) ideological

 primarily motivated by the psychic (ideological) incentive

least successful

exs.:  ACLU, churches, John Birch Society  

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

exs.:  American Medical Association, National Education Association,

Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion

4) minority

represent the interests of particular ethnic/racial groups

primarily economic interests

generally not very successful

exs.:  National Association for the Advancement of Colored People,  

Jewish Defense League, Congress of Racial Equality, LUCHA   

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

exs.:  any government bureaucracy, ie., Department of Defense,

Department of Education, Department of Justice, Ohio State Police 

Interest Group Resources

1)  size

2)  unity

3)  intensity

4) prestige

5) skilled leadership

6) money (the convertible resource)  

Conditions that Increase Interest Group Strength

1)  absence of countervailing groups

2)  lack of public attentiveness

3)  institutional setting in which decision is made 

Who are most likely to join interest groups?

What are their socio-demographic characteristics/

What are interest group leaders like?

Role of lawyers in interest groups

Types of Interest Group Influence

1)  in partisan politics the role of interest groups in campaigns  

 2) in the legislature lobbying  

3)  in the court system amicus curiae briefs

  4) in the bureaucracy

 Lowi's Cozy or Iron Triangle:

the set of mutually beneficial relationships built between interest groups,

 congressional committeepersons, and bureaucrats      

Comparatively

relative absence of interest groups in other countries

do interest groups fill a necessary interest articulation function in a system in which elections are not about the articulation of interests?