6. Interest groups and social movements Flashcards
What is a social movement
Informal grouping of individuals or organizations which aim to promote contentious political or social issues
Methods used by social movements and interest groups
- Creating associations
- Holding public meetings
- Vigils
- Rallies
- Demonstrations
- Issuing statements
- Raising awareness
What are interest groups
- Formal organizations
- Any group that promotes specific policies
- Direct lobbying to policy makers
- Less confrontational than social movements and enage more positively with the state
- Do not seek political participation
- Seek to influence policy to benefit or protect their supporters
- Usually has professional organizational structure
- Often geographically located near centers of political power
Provide an example of a social movement that transformed into an interest group
Labour movements at the start of the 20th century = social movement
The emergence of formal trade unions turned them into interest groups
What is Dahl’s pluralist theory
Although most decisions ans direct influence lies with elected officials, many otehr groups should also be able to use their influence and resources to shape policymaking
What was Dahl’s pluralist project
- Studied politics in New Haven
- Interest groupshad a high degree of access to political elites
- No one group dominated
Why is pluralism good
- Preferable to a system where elections are the sole means of citizen engagement
- Has competitive elections but also offers a route for continuous indirect influence by non-elites
Describe the criticism of the pluralist theory
- Unrealistic and over simplistic
- The degree to which politiciabns can be seen as neutral referees adjucating over competing interests has been called into question
- Policitians are more likely to favour interest groups they agree with
- Citizens with more at stake will have greater access to politicians (not very equal)
- Some groups have a greater capacity to mobilise
- Interest groups can create alliances, making them much stronger
What is an excludable good
A good that some poeple are excluded from benefiting from (farmers subsity only help farmers)
What is a rivalrous good
A good that is reduced when consumed; if one person consumes some of it, there is less left for others (subsidy)
What is the difference between a public good and a private good
Public good Private good benefits society as a whole benefits a specific group in society non-excludable and non-rivalrous excludable and rivalrous lobbies are called public interest groups lobbies are called private interest groups Air, National Defense Farmers and car industry subsidies
What were Olson’s arguments in relation to public and private goods
People are more likely to take action on a private good since the rewards vs effort is greater
What is Olson’s formula for determining an individual’s likelihood of participating in an interest group
R = B * P - C
R: reward
B: benefit
P: probability of making a difference
C: cost of participation
What is the free rider problem as defined by Olson
Public goods have a lower level of support becuase the group is already going to mobilise and individuals will benefit regardless of wether they engage in the campaign
(the cost is high and the benefit will be the same regardless)
Why did Olson believe that public goods should be supplied by the state regardless of the level of interest group support
Because otherwise they will be undersupplied
