Groups, Interests and Movements

Chapter 14

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• What are interest groups?– An interest group is an organized association that aims to influence the policies

or actions of government. – An interests group is a representative of the interests, aspirations and values of a

particular group. – Modern linkages betw. government and the people.– Interest groups are the products of industrialized societies. Why? What were

interest groups in the pre-modern societies? • What is the difference between an interest group and political party?

– No objective to win elections – Narrow definitions of interests and membership criteria

• Why do we need interest groups? – Representatives of group interests– Agents of political mobilization

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How to classify interest groups?

• Association: A group formed by voluntary action on the basis of shared interests and common values.– Association: Membership is usually based on profession.

(Unions, Chambers, Bars) – Social Clubs, Societies, Communities: Membership is usually

based on wealth and status, ethnicity, outstanding accomplishments, or religion.

– Foundation: Non-profit organizations such as charities.• Pressure Groups: • How about anti-constitutional or terrorist organizations?

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Types of Groups• 1) Communal groups

– Membership is based on birth, shared heritage and ancestors.– E.g. families, tribes and ethnic groups

• 2) Institutional groups – Part of government. – Therefore, no autonomy or independence– E.g. bureaucracies and the military, semi-autonomous government

agencies such as (Capital Markets Board of Turkey)• 3) Associational groups

– Voluntary membership and the existence of common interests.– Feature of industrial societies– E.g. Unions like Union of Chambers of Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

(TOBB), Labour/Trade Unions such as Memur-Sen

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Types of Groups

• Sectional vs. Promotional – Sectional groups are private interest groups whose

main concern is the well-being of its members and promotion of their interests. • E.g. Egitim-Sen, Bar Associations, Medical Associations

– Promotional groups are public interest groups which fight for a cause and promote shared values and ideal for the whole society. • E.g. TEMA, Greenpeace

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Types of Groups

• Insider vs. Outsider Groups – Insider groups have regular access to government

and play a role in decision-making. • E.g. Labour Unions

– Outsider groups do not have access to decision-making and are not consulted by government. • E.g. Greenpeace, PETA

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Models of Group Politics

• 1) Pluralist Model • 2) Corporatist Model • 3) New Right Model

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Pluralist Model – Positive view of group politics. – Based on the argument that in modern democracies

political power is/should be dispersed and fragmented– Politics understood as bargaining and consensus.– Politics cannot/should not be dominated by a single

community or a group of elite. – Interest groups defend individuals against government. – Interest groups are the guarantors of a healthy democracy. – interest groups should have equal opportunities to

influence government policies.

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Corporatist Model• Corporatism emphasizes the privileged position that

certain groups enjoy in relation to government. • Closer links between some interest groups and

government. • In this case, insider groups are more influential than

outsider groups either because they are consulted by government or because they have a veto power on policies.

• Government needs to consult these groups as they are seen as a source of knowledge and information on specific issues, as a source of legitimation for their policies.

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• 1) Authoritarian Corporatism:– Characterized by state intervention and

dominance on industry– Destruction of independent labour unions.

• 2) Liberal corporatism: – Refers to the tendency for organized interests to

have access to policy-making. – Interest groups are supported against government

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New Right Model• Antipathy towards interest groups, especially labour unions and

environmentalists. • It argues that interest groups and collective bodies are detrimental

to the idea of individualism, self-reliance and entrepreneuralism and market competition.

• Economic growth and national prosperity are hindered by interest groups and their demands.

• The argument is that labour unions pose threat to government efficiency and effectiveness.

• Strong labour unions have exert more influence on governments which lead to the distortion of market economy in which labour wages are set by the principles of the market not by labour unions.

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Pros and Cons of Interest Groups

• Pros:– 1) They strengthen representation by articulation interests and

advancing particular views and values neglected by government

– 2) They promote debate and discussion on certain issues. – 3) They broaden the scope of political participation by

providing opportunities for grassroots demand to be heard. – 4) They check government power and defend individuals

against the state– 5) They maintain political stability by providing a channel of

communication and link between government and the people.

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• Cons:– 1) They usually promote the views and interests of wealthy

and privileged people. – 2) They are politically and socially divisive as they promote the

interests of one group over the interests of whole society. Threat to national unity.

– 3) They are not publicly accountable and transparent bodies as they can be more influential than political parties even though they are not elected by the people.

– 4) They make societies ungovernable as they can block government initiatives and hinder social and economic development.

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How do groups exert influence?

• Resources:– Public sympathy for the group– The size of its membership– Its financial strength and organizational

capabilities– Its ability to disrupt/veto government activities– Personal and Institutional links with political

parties or government

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• Channels:– The bureaucracy:

• Informal consultation between state officials and private interest groups (business groups)

• Consultation in economic and commercial policies• Usually bureaucrats upon their retirement find a job in private companies

as consultants and representatives. (Revolving door) – The assembly

• Lobbying: Professional representatives of interest groups try to persuade politicians to vote or not to vote for a policy proposal in the assembly.

• Politicians in some cases become speakers of a particular interest groups.– The courts

• Usually interest groups cannot directly influence courts and interact with judicial bodies.

• Yet, interest groups may take their issues to the court in order to publicize their demands.

– Political parties– The mass media– Supranational organizations

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Social Movements• Social Movement:

– A particular form of collective behaviour and political activism which has a loose organizational framework yet a strong motive and commitment as well as high level of political activism.

– E.g. environmental movements, the peace movement in the 1960s.

– E.g. worker’s movement in the 19th century, nationalist movements, Nazi movement in Germany, anticolonial movements.

– Difference between rebellion and social movements is that the latter is more organized and aimed at achieving a social or political goal usually through non-violent ways such as protests.

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Differences between old and new social movements

• 1) Old social movements included oppressed and exploited people such as workers, peasants, whereas new social movements include young, better-educated and affluent people.

• 2) Old movements were materially oriented as their main goal was to improve economic conditions and welfare of workers, peasants, minority groups whereas new social movements are much more postmaterialist. They aim to advance gender equality, animal rights, environmental protection and human rights.

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Differences between old and new social movements

• 3) Old movements usually didn’t work together and had little in common in terms of ideology some of them socialist, some of nationalist whereas new social movements do have a common ideology, namely the New Left.

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New Left • New Left rejects both Soviet-style socialism and

softened/de-radicalized Western social democracy. • They argue that the role of the working class as a

revolutionary agent is not viable. • They reject oppressive structures of traditional societies. • They prefer decentralization and participatory democracy. • They reject corporate domination and consumer societies. • They are usually anti-capitalist and anti-globalization. • They advocate minority rights, women’s rights, animal

rights, environmental issues.

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Differences between old and new social movements

• 4) New social movements are decentralized, loosely organized, participatory in decision-making and developed new ways of political participation and activism against the traditional methods. They are against established political parties (they are anti-party parties)

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• Political Participation– Participation in decision-making– Political parties if they are elected – Interest groups if they are consulted

• Political Representation– Representation in government/the state – Elections and voting– Political parties if they are elected– An interest group represents only a particular group

• Political Articulation– Articulation of interests– Political parties, interest groups and social movements articulate interests

• Political Mobilization – Mobilization of the people– Political parties, interest groups and social movements can mobilize their

members and resources for the achievement of their objectives