ch. 11 - interest groups (class)

8/7/2019 Ch. 11 - Interest Groups (Class)

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Ch11


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Defining Interest Groups

o An organization of people with shared policy goals entering thepolicy process at several points to try to achieve those goals.Interest groups pursue their goals in many arenas.

o Political Parties fight election battles, Interest Groups dont - butthey may choose sides.

o Interest Groups are policy specialists, Political Parties are policygeneralists.


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Pluralist Theory

Elite Theory

Hyperpluralist Theory


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Pluralism :

o Politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing

for its own preferred policies.

o Many centers of power and many diverse, competing groups.

o No group wins or loses all the time.

o Groups provide the key link between the people and the

government.


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Pluralism

o Groups provide a key link between people and government.

o Groups compete.

o

No one group is likely to become too dominant.o Groups usually play by the rules of the game.

o Groups weak in one resource can use another.


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Elitism

o Societies are divided along class lines and an upper-class elite

rules, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental

organization.

o Numerous groups mean nothing, power is not equally divided

among them - some have much more.

o The largest corporations hold the most power.


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Elitism

o Elite power is strengthened by a system of interlocking directoratesof these corporations and other institutions.

o Corporate elites are willing to lose the minor policy battles, but work

to win the major policy issues in their favor.o Lobbying is a problem because it benefits the few at the expense of

the many.


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Hyperpluralism

o The many sub-governments (iron triangles) aggravate the process.

o When the government tries to please all the groups, the policies

become confusing and contradictory.

o With more interest groups getting involved, these sub-governments

may be dissolving.


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The Surprising Ineffectiveness of Large Groups

o Potential group: All the people who might be interest groupmembers because they share a common interest.

o Actual group: The part of the potential group consisting of members

who actually join.o Collective good: Something of value that cannot be withheld from a

group member


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o Free-Rider problem: Some people dont join interest groups because

they benefit from the groups activities without officially joining.

o The bigger the group, the larger the free-rider problem. (Olsons law

of large groups)

o Large groups are difficult to keep organized.


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o Small groups are better organized and more focused on the groups

goals.

o Consumer groups have a difficult time getting significant policy

gains - the benefits are spread over the entire population.

o Groups that can provide selective benefits can overcome thisproblem.


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Intensity

o Single-Issue groups: Groups that focus on a narrow interest and

dislike compromise.

o Groups may focus on an emotional issue, providing them with a

psychological advantage.

o May be more likely to use protests and other means of political

participation than traditional interest groups that use lobbyists.


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Financial Resources

o Not all groups have equal amounts of money.

o Monetary donations usually translate into access to the politicians -

a phone call, a meeting, etc.

o There is a bias towards the wealthier groups.

o The wealthier groups dont always win in the policy arena.


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Lobbying

o communication by someone other than a citizen acting on his own

behalf, directed to a governmental decisionmaker with the hope of

influencinghis decision. (Lester Milbrath)

o Two basic types: Those that are employed by a group, and those that

are hired temporarily.


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o Lobbyists are a source of information.

o Lobbyists can help politicians plan political strategies for legislation.

o Lobbyists can help politicians plan political strategies for reelection

campaigns.

o Lobbyists can provide ideas and innovations that can be turned into

policies that the politician can take credit for.


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Electioneering

o Direct group involvement in the election process.

o Political Action Committee (PAC): Used by interest groups to donate

money to candidates.

o PACs help pay the bill for increasing campaign costs.

o Most PAC money goes to incumbents.


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Litigation

o If an interest group fails in one arena, the courts may be able to

provide a remedy.

o Interest groups can file amicus curiae briefs in court cases to

support their position.

o Class Action lawsuits permit small groups of people to try and

correct a situation on behalf of a much larger group.


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Going Public

o Groups try and cultivate a good public image.

o Groups use marketing strategies to influence public opinion of the

group and its issues.

o Groups will purchase advertising to motivate the public about an

issue.


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Economic Interests

o Labor

o Agriculture

o Business

Environmental Interests

Equality Interests

Consumer and Public Interest Lobbies


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Interest Groups and Democracy

o James Madisons solution to the problems posed by interest groupswas to create a wide-open system in which groups compete.

o Elite theorists point to the proliferation of business PACs as

evidence of interest group corruption.o Hyperpluralists maintain that group influence has led to policy

gridlock.


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Interest Groups and the Scope of Government

o Interest groups seek to maintain policies and programs that benefit

them.

o Interest groups continue to pressure government to do more things.

o But as the government does more things, does that cause the

formation of more groups?

ch. 11 - interest groups (class)

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