Interest groups in the policy-making process

Abstract

This chapter examines the role of interest groups and seeks to explain the central role that they play in the policy-making process. The importance of interest groups has varied over time since they became an accepted part of the political process in the early 1960s. The chapter explores their influence and examines the role that interest groups play in the policy-making process, assessing whether their impact is positive or negative. Defining interest groups is a perennial problem, especially given the proliferation of organisations that have attempted to influence the policy process. Interest group politics in essence means trying to influence the formation, passage through the legislature, and implementation of public policy by means of contact with ministers, civil servants, political parties, individual politicians, the media and the public. Economic policy formulation that involves government, industry, trade unions and perhaps farmers is better described as tripartite.