Outside the Issue Niche

Abstract

Interest groups care deeply about, and struggle to shape, their identities on Capitol Hill. A group's identity is what makes it unique and separates it from other organizations in the advocacy community. Previous research has argued that interest group identities are formed by creating exclusive niches over narrow policy issues, but this research has neglected the degree to which groups depend on representation, ideology, and advocacy techniques in establishing their uniqueness. The author argues that interest group identities are formed in multiple dimensions, with issues serving as an important, but nondominant, basis for identification. Qualitative and quantitative methods are used to analyze data from interviews with representatives of 168 national interest groups working on health care. The findings provide a basis for bridging theories of group maintenance and influence by demonstrating that identity encourages groups to consider simultaneously the ways their behaviors are perceived on Capitol Hill and by their members.

“We don’t tell people what to do”: An examination of the factors influencing NGO decisions to campaign for reduced meat consumption in light of climate change

“…In much of the niche theory literature, this behavior is seen to be an outcome of organizations seeking to avoid competition for scarce resources such as members, funding, and political access and support (Gray and Lowery, 1996;Heaney, 2004). Thus, NGOs strive to specialize in order to differentiate themselves from other NGOs and avoid competition.…”

“…Indeed, prior literature suggests that NGOs frequently develop niches in which they work, defined in part by the issues they take on and the specific set of tactics they regularly turn to (Browne, 1990;Heaney, 2004). In much of the niche theory literature, this behavior is seen to be an outcome of organizations seeking to avoid competition for scarce resources such as members, funding, and political access and support (Gray and Lowery, 1996;Heaney, 2004).…”

Interest Groups, the Bureaucracy, and Issue Prioritization

“…The niche-seeking dimension highlights how groups respond to other groups in their environment. To stress their unique nature, they may seek out policy niches in which to specialize, especially in a competitive environment (Browne, 1990;Gray & Lowery, 1996;Heaney, 2004). This applies to both specialist and generalist groups.…”

The partisan ties of lobbying firms

“…During a period of high partisan polarization – such as the contemporary era – allies are likely to be members of the same party (Poole and Rosenthal, 2000). Organizational identity is a key way that advocacy organizations become known with respect to their political loyalties (Heaney, 2004; Heaney and Leifeld, 2018). Thus, we argue that the partisan organizational identities of lobbying firms are important to them being understood as partisan allies to legislators.…”