Interest Groups and Social Movements Flashcards
What are interest groups?
Groups aimed at influencing the government
What are social movements?
Peaceful forms of collective action who broaden the inclusiveness of democratic regimes.
Which theories are part of Heywood’s list of group politics? What do they represent?
Republican - (anti-model because they pursue the common good)
Pluralist - accepts divisions and cleavages in society and says that holds the notion that there is a fair competition of interests which holds democracy together. Unfair competition or participation is a challenge to this notion.
Corporatist - privileges key interests of society because some interests are clearly more consequential than others. Wide consensus of critical issues without organization from the state.
New Right - critical to collective interests, says corporatists devalue individual autonomy and chase special treatment, and challenges pluralists asserting that competition is not fair and groups don’t serve all interests except their own like trying to get goodies from the government
Do interests group enhance democracy?
Yes
- Dispersing power to the poor, elderely, people that don’t have much of a voice
- Educate the voter with alternative resources and technical expertise
- boost participation of younger groups and unconventional activists
No
-Social inequality will make for an unfair competition of interests – those with the most power will generally win.
-Non-legitmative power, no elections and therefore non-accountable.
Subversion of representation - operate behind closed doors or sometimes outside of legal framework such as protest parties.
Neo-pluralists accept this but assert that our system has competing elites too.
What are the types of interest groups?
Communal - born into shared heritage, traditions and loyalty. Ethnic, kinship groups.
Institutional - As part of the government machine, try to exert influence in and through the machine such as military and bureaucracies.
Associational - formed by the collective with limiting shared goals for social pressure and influencing government actions
What are sectional and promotional groups?
Sectional groups exist to advance or preserve (usally) material interests. Represent sections of people such as workers and employers in trade unions.
Promotional groups exist to advanced shared values, ideas or principles such pro-life.
What are insider/outsider groups?
Insider groups receive easy consultation, agency, and resource from governments.
Outsider groups do not and are forced to go public to get their voice heard.
What is the distinction between old and new social movements?
Old movements mostly served distinct sections of society such as the working class.
New Movements have a much broader goal of improving conditions for all, taking on more encompassing issues like domination and discrimination. They are less centralized and more fluid.
How is the french revolution an example of republican interest?
The French revolution came with the notion that society should purify themselves of the things that divide them and deemphasize the divisions of society.
