Interest Groups In Public Policy Unige

An interest group is an organization of a part of society, which aims to defend the material interests of its members and/or to promote the ideal cause of the group in the public space... It has four constitutive characteristics. Is made up of members, who may be individuals (e.g., an occupational group of family doctors) or collective actors (e.g., a sectoral association of organic farms). This first dimension distinguishes it from a private company that can also lobby politicians. Is a structured organization that can take different legal forms (e.g., association, foundation, or cooperative). It differs thus from a loose social movement that does not have formal and permanent structures.

Seeks to influence public opinion formation, the drafting of legislation, and policy implementation. It uses various advocacy strategies to gain access to policy-makers and institutional venues. This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications volume 10, Article number: 565 (2023) Cite this article Government officers are key players in designing and implementing public policies. Not surprisingly, a growing body of research approaches their connections with other stakeholders, such as ministers, elected officials, and political parties.

Fewer studies, however, address the relationship between bureaucrats and interest organisations. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of recent publications regarding interest groups and the public bureaucracy. The paper introduces the findings of an extensive literature review with bibliometric techniques and qualitative content analysis. To map previous studies, I analysed 1978 abstracts with VOSviewer and R. The final collection included 415 papers which were read and coded through NVivo. Based on this review, this paper exposes data on authors, countries, and research methods related to texts published between 2000 and 2022.

In addition, it critically examines concepts and empirical evidence regarding the interactions between interest groups and government officers. This study advances the research agenda on interest groups by identifying gaps in previous studies and proposing new perspectives to analyse the political connections of the public bureaucracy. The findings indicate that most publications focus on interest group strategies, revolving doors, and venue choice. Fewer texts assess influence over political appointments and personal networks. Therefore, further research is required to address the causal mechanisms between access to the bureaucracy and interest group influence over public policies. Moreover, the bibliometric analysis revealed that research networks have been located in the United States and Europe and publications tend to focus on the ‘global North’.

In this sense, more regional diversity might be beneficial for the development of theoretical and methodological structures able to ‘travel’ to other cases. The political domain encompasses a varied range of individuals and groups: citizens, politicians, political parties, bureaucrats, social movements, and interest groups, among others. Government officers are responsible for designing and implementing public policies and play a key role in executing political decisions. On the input side of political exchanges, interest groups voice needs from society to the State. Not surprisingly, there is a growing body of research addressing the role of these actors in decision-making processes. Nevertheless, frew studies approach the relationship between interest groups and non-elected officials (Boehmke, et al., 2013; Boehmke, 2018; Dwidar, 2022).

Although the political functions of public employees is undeniable, assessing their political connections is challenging as it often involves contested concepts and subjective variables, such as power, motivation, and influence. Not Surprisingly, terms such as ‘politicisation of the bureaucracy’ or ‘patronage’ frequently have pejorative connotations. This paper aims to advance the research agenda on interest groups and the public bureaucracy by mapping previous studies to identify their topics, gaps, and research strategies. I start from the proposition that the research literature on interest groups and bureaucrats is still underdeveloped, as cited by previous studies (Boehmke, et al., 2013; Boehmke, 2018; Dwidar, 2022). Accordingly, the paper introduces the findings of an original study aiming to identify the overlaps between these two research topics: public bureaucracy and pressure politics (lobbying and interest groups). In this sense, the search focused on publications on politicisation, patronage, and lobbying since these concepts are related to bureaucrats’ political connections.

By employing bibliometric techniques, I identified themes, authors, and organisations to provide an overview of this field. The general collection included 1978 texts analysed through VOSviewer and R Studio. In addition, I read and coded 415 texts with NVivo to identify the concepts, theoretical frameworks, and methods employed in these studies. Through qualitative content analysis, I discuss concepts and empirical evidence regarding the interactions between bureaucrats and interest groups. The study innovates by combining different research topics in political science and analysing an unprecedented large volume of publications. This paper introduces its finding through an integrative literature review highlighting the similarities and divergences between studies on interest groups and the public bureaucracy.

The research questions guiding this project were: Explore the fundamental role of interest groups in shaping public policy and the mechanisms they use to exert influence. Interest groups are organized associations that enable individuals and organizations to collectively advocate for shared concerns. They play a significant role in shaping public discourse and influencing governmental decisions. An interest group is an organized association that seeks to influence public policy or government decisions without directly seeking to govern. These groups are distinct from political parties, which aim to win elections and control government.

The primary purpose of an interest group is to represent and advocate for the specific interests of its members, whether those interests are economic, social, or ideological. Interest groups serve as a bridge between citizens and government, allowing for the aggregation and articulation of diverse viewpoints. They focus on specific issues or a narrow range of concerns, working to ensure that their members’ voices are heard in the policymaking process. This advocacy can involve informing policymakers, mobilizing public support, or engaging in legal challenges to advance their objectives. Interest groups encompass a wide array of organizations, each with a distinct focus and membership. Interest groups spend billions of dollars each year to influence policy decisions.

In the U.S., lobbying expenditures exceeded $4 billion in 2023 alone. These organizations shape laws, regulations, and public debates to align with their interests. Unlike political parties, they do not run candidates for office but instead pressure lawmakers and the public. From corporate giants to grassroots movements, interest groups use various strategies to sway decision-makers. Their influence can be controversial—some view them as essential for democracy, while others see them as vehicles for undue influence. Understanding their methods is crucial to evaluating their role in policymaking.

Interest groups are organizations that seek to influence public policy in favor of their specific interests. They advocate for causes ranging from economic policies and labor rights to environmental protection and civil liberties. These groups operate at all levels of government, working to shape legislation, regulations, and public opinion. Their influence is exerted through lobbying, funding political campaigns, mobilizing supporters, and engaging in legal action. Some of the most well-known interest groups include the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the National Rifle Association (NRA), and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The key difference between interest groups and political parties lies in their objectives. Political parties exist to win elections and govern, representing broad coalitions of voters. In contrast, interest groups do not run candidates but rather seek to influence those in power, regardless of which party controls the government. While political parties must appeal to a wide range of voters to gain electoral success, interest groups can focus on specific policies and specialized agendas. This allows them to be highly effective in shaping public policy, sometimes wielding as much or even more influence than elected officials. Interest groups vary in size, scope, and focus.

They can represent powerful corporations, small grassroots movements, or professional associations. Below are the main types of interest groups and their roles:

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