7. Interest Groups

Political parties and state institutions are not the only organizations which influence politics. Organizations exist which seek to influence the decisions made by governments. These interest groups (or “lobbyists”) are formed by private citizens who want to influence the government to enact a particular social, political, or economic agenda. These groups sometimes claim to be acting for certain groups in society (e.g., trade unions, industries, corporations), but many claim to be acting in “the public interest”, particularly when they are pushing for social changes, rather than specific economic policies. Some political theorists see interest groups as dangerous to democracy, as they give advantage to smaller or wealthier groups while ignoring citizens who lack the same resources or contacts. Other theorists see interest groups as evidence of a healthy and functioning democracy, ensuring that citizens’ voices are heard and holding the government into account.

Interest groups have various ways of trying to influence the government. Lobbying refers to groups trying to directly influence politicians, through actions such as presenting petitions or donating money to a political party in exchange for that party promoting the group’s interests. This is the most common form of interest group activity, but it is frowned upon by the population and is often seen as a way of “buying” power for certain groups. Indirect actions are also pursued by interest groups, such as contentious politics in the form of unions calling strikes, or corporations threatening to move their production out of the country.