Interest Groups
Definition
Interest groups are organized associations of individuals or organizations that seek to influence public policy by promoting their shared interests and concerns to policymakers.
Analogy
Think of interest groups as different clubs in school. Each club has its own members who share common interests (like chess club or drama club) and they work together to advocate for their specific goals.
Related terms
Lobbying: Lobbying refers to efforts made by interest groups to influence lawmakers directly through persuasion, providing information, or campaign contributions.
Pluralism: Pluralism is a theory that suggests power is distributed among various interest groups in society rather than being concentrated in one group or institution.
Advocacy: Advocacy involves actively supporting a particular cause or issue through actions like lobbying, campaigning, or raising awareness.
"Interest Groups" appears in:
Subjects (1)
Study guides (2)
Additional resources (1)
Practice Questions (2)
- Which country has a well-established civil society and is influenced by interest groups, religious organizations, and NGOs?
- How do social movements differ from interest groups?
Resources
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