Interest Group Politics in America

Civil Society Organizations, Advocacy, and Policy Making in Latin American Democracies

“…Governments regularly consult encompassing associations (namely, peak associations, umbrella groups, or federations) and treat them as "legitimate representative bodies" (Hunter 1993, 131). In contrast, American politics specialists have examined how interest-group coalitions help groups synthesize demands, merge constituencies and memberships, and create an "image of broad-based political support" (Gelb and Palley 1996, 125; see also Berry 1997;Costain 1980;Hrebenar 1997;Hula 1999). Outside observers are less likely to perceive a group participating in a coalition as an "isolated maverick" (Berry 1997, 188).…”

“…38. Scholars of American politics have made a similar distinction between direct and indirect lobbying (Berry 1997;Hrebenar 1997). 39.…”

“…Similar arguments appear in studies of interest group coalitions in the US. Representative works include Berry (1997), Costain (1980), Gelb and Palley (1996), Hrebenar (1997), and Hula (1999). Shepard (2003) suggests further that coalitions are more adept than formal alliances at responding rapidly to changing political circumstances.…”

“…One approach, already mentioned above, identifies organizational resources that correlate with political clout. According to the conventional wisdom on interest groups in the American politics field, money, members, administrative capacity, expertise, respected leadership, and political allies are important assets (Berry 1999;Gelb and Palley 1996;Greenwald 1977;Hrebenar 1997;Lehman, Schlozman, and Tierney 1986;Petracca 1992). Analysts of nonprofits (Hudson 2002;Rees 1999;Taylor and Warburton 2003) and SMOs in Europe and the United States (Dalton 1994;Jenkins 1983;McCarthy and Zald 1977;Oberschall 1973) discuss similar variables.…”

Chinese Stated-owned Oil Companies in the U.S.

“…However, these are "negatively charged terms, each implying unsavory tactics or a lack of a concern for a broader public interest." 64 A neutral term should be interest group. According to opensecrets.org, there are 12,278 lobbyists in the U.S. by the end of 2013.…”