1. Interest Groups and Social Movements
POLI 101: July 26, 2016
Interest Groups and Social Movements

2. Interest Groups
An interest group is an organized group of citizens, whose central political goal is to ensure that the state follows certain policies.
They often work with political parties, but they are not themselves parties.
For example, Disney and intellectual property rights.

3. Interest Groups
Interest groups seek to influence debate and policy through:
Lobbying
Means speaking with and spending time with politicians to try to convince them of their side of an argument.
Expertise
Many legislators know very little about the legislation they are asked to vote on. Interest groups often provide expertise on specific areas that legislators listen to.
Model legislation
Providing ready made bills for legislators on preferred topics makes the job of the legislator easier – ALEC – “John Oliver on ALEC and state legislators”
Politician ratings
Provides information to voters about how well or poorly a politician’s voting record matches the interest group’s preferred policy.
Money
Campaign cash is useful for politicians, but they can also boycott things.
Votes
Well-organized, popular interest groups can influence the votes of their members. Politicians realize this. Mass information campaigns, door-knocking, endorsements. The “Harry and Louise” ads from early 90s.
Litigation
Interest groups are able to hire lawyers to challenge laws in court. For example, NAACP and ACLU

4. Types of Interest Groups
Sectoral Groups
Maybe a corporation or a union that is trying to influence policy decisions having to do with their industry.
Usually fairly effective, well-organized. Having money and expertise and concentration.
Ex: Disney and intellectual property
Institutional Groups
Maybe a university or the army or another institution that would exist without an interest in politics, but benefit from Gov’t budgets
Promotional Groups
Organized around a point of view. Some are effective, others are not. More difficult to organize well. Often operate like “third parties,” whereby people who are passionate about one issue can express influence and care on that issue.

5. Examples of Interest Groups
National Organization for Women
Sierra Club
National Association of Wheat Growers
Consumer Action
National Retail Federation
American Civil Liberties Union
National Rifle Association
American Association for the Advancement of Science

6. Why do small interests often win?
Free rider problem
When there are many “winners” from a policy, no one wants to be the one who has to face the expense of actually seeing it passed.
Concentrated benefits, diffuse costs
NRA
Sugar lobbies

7. Interest Groups & Parties
Both parties in the United States are supported by interest groups.
Opensecrets.org – lists donors and contributors for politicians
Compare Obama and Romney’s contributors and money spent

8. Interest Groups Definition: “workhorses of political advocacy”
alternate vehicle for representation
Barriers to effectiveness:
poor organization
priority voices (“disproportionate voices”)
interest distortion
Variation: (a) degree of organization
(b) degree of direct involvement in government 8

9. Collective Action Logic of Collective Action
collective goods vs. costs
factors that could draw membership to interest groups
size
selective incentives
coercion
relative muscle

10. Mechanics PLURALISM *competitive political environment
*level playing field for competing interest groups
NEO-CORPORATISM
*government solicits and institutionalizes
some voices, some interest groups
*preferential treatment
power & choice ...

11. Social Movements
In some ways, I think social movements are simply another example of interest groups.
More “grassroots”
Less organized
Wider

12. Social Movements
Why do people protest and march?

13. Social Movements Why do people protest and march? Bring awareness
Show voice through action
Demonstrate numbers
Change “climate”
Often use shame as a weapon
Often the only route for those who are excluded.

14. Social Movements Temperance movement Civil rights movement Arab Spring
Tea Party
Occupy Wall Street
Ferguson Protests?

15. March on Washington

16. Civil Disobedience as Protest
We now come back around to realize that much of “politics” happens outside the rules.
How do we know when such politics is legitimate?
Only citizens can vote, but is it true that only citizens can be a part of politics?

17. Social Movements and Politicians
Social movements and interest groups often work outside of “official” avenues, but are necessary for politicians to act. Why?
Is this how we want our politicians to act?
What do you think makes a good politician?
Delegate?
Trustee?