Interest groups form an important part of the development of political and social systems. The Politics of Interest Groups goes beyond current literature in examining the survival and ‘careers’ of such groups beyond their formation.

The book looks at the necessary factors of organizational form to ensure the productivity and influence of an interest group. Using example case studies from the UK, US and Australia, the book presents extensive historical analyses of specific groups, to better understand the organisation and position of such groups within their political system.

The Politics of Interest Groups will be of interest to those concerned with advocacy and public representation within political studies.

Contents

1. Groups as ‘Organisations’: A Lacuna? 2. Tracing Interest Group Evolution: Organizational Form and Evolutionary Sequences 3. Variation in Organisational Form at the Population Level 4. Group Formation: ‘Choosing’ Initial Group Organisational Form 5. Group Leaders, Agency and Post-Formative Change 6. Levels of Group Change: Changing Identity, Updating Strategy or Switching Instruments 7. The Relationship between Levels of Change: Nested or Independent? 8. Identifying Patterns of Group Evolution 9. Linking Organizational Form to Group Capacities 10. Conclusions

Author Bio

Darren Halpin is Professor in Public Policy at The Robert Gordon University