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Interest Groups

Interest Groups. D. Brown/ Pol Sci 222 St Francis Xavier University January 2013. Interest Groups: Topics Covered. Defining interest groups and related concepts Interest group functions Snap-shot of interest groups in Canada Theory consideration…does it matter?

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Interest Groups

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  1. Interest Groups D. Brown/ Pol Sci 222 St Francis Xavier University January 2013

  2. Interest Groups: Topics Covered • Defining interest groups and related concepts • Interest group functions • Snap-shot of interest groups in Canada • Theory consideration…does it matter? • Policy Networks and Communities • State-sponsored interests • How interest groups work

  3. Definitions…. • Interest groups: • Private associations that promote their specific interests and values in the political community • Similar terms: “special interests”, “pressure groups” “civil society organizations” • Not: political parties as such • Can represent collective interests of parts of the private, not-for-profit and/or voluntary sector

  4. Interest Group Functions • Promoting interests of members in policy process, in media, and with other interests • Channel communications between members and government • Legitimize government actions by participating in policy process • May regulate members on behalf of public authorities • May implement government programs through partnerships or cooperation with government

  5. Scope… • 20,000 organizations in Canada • Range from international to national to provincial to neighbourhood • Cover every conceivable form of interest: • Economic, sectoral, social, professional, cultural, ethnic, religious, environmental, etc.

  6. Theory considerations…1 • Pluralism: interest groups are vital to democracy. A major role of governments is to balance interests • Neo-pluralists: business has more clout than all the rest • Marxists: interest groups reflect class interests and the dominant position of capital

  7. Theory considerations…2 • Neo-institutionalists • The State shapes interest group organization and behaviour • Interest groups interact with State actors (who have their own interests) in Policy Communities and Networks

  8. Policy Communities and Networks • Policy Communities….constellation of actors in a policy field • Policy Networks….the nature of relationships between the key actors • They contribute to fragmenting state policy-making and society’s interests, but also to more efficient consideration of policy issues • They reflect state structure and preferences as much as those of organized social interests

  9. State-sponsored interest groups • Charter-based interests: • Women, aged, ethnic minorities, language minorities, Gay and Lesbians, etc, • Aboriginal organizations • Some trade, labour organizations • Primary producers: agriculture, fisheries

  10. Interest Group Characteristics • Formal organization is important to success • “institutionalized” interest groups are influential, but can be out-flanked by ad-hoc coalitions of informal players • Money always counts…but there is more than one way of getting it

  11. Interest Group Power • They shape the public agenda • They have an effect on election outcomes • They can punish governments by influencing private players • They can often resist change that is against their interests.

  12. Key Strategies • Lobbying efforts • Expensive • Compromises the interest group • Influencing public opinion • Requires media smarts • Opinion polls influence opinion • Going to court • Need a good case • Need money (unless government will pay)

  13. Systemic limits on interest group power:4 forms of policy networks (Montpetit) • Pluralist systems (e.g. Canada, USA)– open to new groups, and few if any groups have mandatory influence • Corporatist systems (e.g. Germany)– a closed set of key players making key decisions jointly with government • Dirigist systems (e.g. France) -- top down, bureaucratic power, less room for interest group influence • Clientilist system (e.g. banana republic) -- government decisions dominated by one key set of interests alone

  14. Limits to Interest Group Power • Lack of cohesion / competition from other groups • Portrayed by parties, governments as having unfair and undue influence as “special interests” • Losing touch with grass roots • Public service resistance -- “public interest” trumping particular interests

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