Parties

Background What is a political party? –Goals? What led parties forming? How do we mobilize? –Or maybe better yet, why do we mobilize? How do we recruit leaders?

Organizations and Systems How do we organize parties? One-party system –Only one can be active Dominant-party system –Allowed to, but don’t –PRI in Mexico—70 years Two-party system –Two parties trade off power Multiparty system

Michels Iron Law of Oligarchy

Interest Groups

Background What are they? Barriers to functioning well: –Not all are equally well organized –Some groups command disproportionate voice –Lack structures to ensure that leaders will be responsive to members’ wishes

Logic of Collective Action Free-riders Collective goods Group size Selective incentives Coerce Large members make it happen

Types Sectoral –Unions, corporations, Professions Institutional –Army, Red Cross, Public university Promotional –NAACP, NRA, Christian Coalition

Tactics Control of Information and Expertise Electoral Activity Use of Economic Power Campaign Contributions Public Information Campaigns Violence and Disruption Litigation

Abstractions Pluralism v. Neocorporatism