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Interest groups play a significant role in a democratic society. They are organisations that attempt to influence public policy for certain causes. Lobbying is the most common tactic they use to put pressure on policymakers to gain desirable results. This is when these groups directly communicate with politicians and government officials to pressure and persuade them to support their ideas and policies. Hence, interest groups are a channel for citizens to express their opinions and gain an opportunity to influence the policy-making process. Whilst there are many benefits that interest groups bring, there are questions as to whether they are harmful to democracy. This article aims to provide a brief overview of the pros and cons of interest groups to democracy.
There are many ways in which interest groups enhance democracy. One notable advantage it has is the increased representation of people in the political system. It allows individuals to voice their opinions and form a collective in order to influence policy. This strengthens their influence on policy makers as they tend to adopt or are more willing to hear ideas from a collective rather than individuals. Thus, interest groups can put significant pressure on policymakers to examine and consider their ideas due to their collective power.
Moreover, interest groups provide an alternative way for people to engage in politics, thus improving political participation. For example, some people might not have an incentive to vote in elections. This is partially because the party's manifestos often cover a wide range of goals and policies that fail to resonate with people. In this case, their incentive to vote would be relatively low. Further, interest groups often advocate for a specific area of policy such as human rights or environmental causes, motivating those interested and passionate in such areas to participate in the political process. It therefore fosters civic engagement and offers an alternative way for those who may otherwise be less active in civic life to get involved.
Yet, it may be seen that the democratic process is hindered by interest groups. Interest groups and government officials often have opposing stances, and this gets even more intense between competing interest groups.
Different interest groups can have different views on the same issue. A remarkable example is the gun control issue within the US. Interest groups such as the National Rifle Association (NRA) champion the protection of the Second Amendment which gives people the right to bear arms, whilst some advocacy groups such as the Everytown for Gun Safety argue for stricter gun control measures. Policymakers may find it difficult to fulfil the demands of all interest groups despite their large membership, eventually resulting in gridlock that hinders the decision-making process. This sometimes happens as interest groups that have abundant resources can push their agendas forward in the legislative process which may override the legislation of policies that are formulated based on the public’s interest. The increased polarisation in US politics can be partially explained by the significant influence these interest groups possess in the legislative process. Interest groups may provide funding to political candidates who align with their ideologies. As a result, these politicians may prioritise the agenda of the interest group and adopt extreme positions in favour of the group.
Interest groups can further be classified into ‘insiders’ and ‘outsiders’. Insider groups have greater financial resources and connections to gain access to legislators and those in the government. For instance, the American Medical Association (AMA) is the largest insider lobbying group of physicians and medical students that is governed by a board of trustees, House of Delegates, councils etc. Thus, they have established connections with policymakers which gives them an advantage in policy changing. Outsider groups are the opposite. They do not have extensive networks or strong financial support to communicate directly with policymakers. Some examples would be the NAACP and Greenpeace, which often mobilise public opinion to gain influence. This raises concerns over the inequality in influence. Insider groups with connections and resources are more likely to have a greater impact on policy making compared to outsider groups. This could marginalise the opinions and voices of outsider groups that are less privileged and well-connected. However, it is important to recognise that some interest groups, like Amnesty International, purposely position themselves as an outsider to avoid political tanglements, despite being well-funded. Hence, not every outsider group is devoid of financial support.
We can see that the role of interest groups in a democracy is complicated. While they bring great advantages, such as increasing political participation and representation, they contribute to political gridlock and raise the problem of inequality where interest groups with more resources are able to have greater influence on policy making over the less affluent groups. A balance must therefore be struck between the positive influence of interest groups and their potential harms to democracy.
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