A Cross-National Comparison of Welfare Lobby Groups: The British Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS)

Abstract

Theories of globalisation suggest that national lobby groups continue to exert significant impact on social policy outcomes. This paper compares two prominent national welfare lobby groups, the British Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), and the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS). Attention is drawn to their similarities and differences in a number of areas including their origins, major aims and objectives, representation, ideology, funding, lobbying strategies and targets, and political influence and effectiveness. Some conclusions are drawn from this comparison about the complexity of the relationship between globalisation and national welfare states.